River Nymph ridden by jockey Adam Kirby (right) on their way to winning at Newbury

Catching Pigeons gossip and tips ahead of weekend's racing action

By Catching Pigeons

Horse Racing

Sat October 17, 2020 · 4y ago

River Nymph is expected to put up a bold bid in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot - our gallops insider rounds up all the fancied runners this weekend.

Oxted - 1.55 Ascot

Oxted⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: R A Teal| OR: 120| D

9/1

Oxted looks the value bet to see off in-form speedster Dream Of Dreams and win the Qipco Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Roger Teal punches well above the weight of his relatively small string, and the Lambourn trainer has proved on more than one occasion that he can produce the goods at the highest level. Oxted's brilliant win in the July Cup was the most convincing evidence of this, and hopes are very high at the famous Windsor House stables at the head of the Lambourn High Street, that he can follow up that success. Things have not been plain sailing since that victory, but he has fully recovered from the operation to improve his breathing, and is back working very well. The enforced break has also allowed him to arrive at only his third appearance of the season a fresh horse, and he looks a solid each-way proposition, in what should prove, along with the other five races on the star-studded card, a fascinating race.

Fujaira Prince - 1.20 Ascot

Fujaira Prince³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 114| C

10/1

Fujaira Prince will enjoy the prevailing easy ground a lot more than he did when second to Search For a Song in the Irish St Leger on his latest start, and he looks worth an each-way shout in the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. Of course, he must also see off the mighty Stradivarius, in addition to his conqueror at The Curragh if he is to add to his previous wins this term at the Royal meeting here, and in the Ebor at York, but John Gosden's star had a hard race in the Arc two weeks ago, and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he may be feeling a bit flat come the end of what what will be a demanding two miles in the testing ground.

Wonderful Tonight - 2.30 Ascot

Wonderful Tonight¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: D Menuisier| OR: 114| D

4/1

Wonderful Tonight can cap a fine season for David Menusier in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. A proven performer in the most testing conditions even before she delivered a deserved win at the highest level in the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp two weeks ago, plus, in a race which will require stamina and class, she possesses both qualities in abundance. It has to be taken on trust that she can come up with the goods again just two weeks after that success, but her win in France also showed her to be as game and tough as they come, and she looks the one they all have to beat.

River Nymph - 4.15 Ascot

River Nymph⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 101| C

11/2

River Nymph, re-routed here after missing a seven furlong heritage event at the last meeting a couple of weeks ago, is expected to go well in the Balmoral Handicap. Although his ability to stay the mile has to be taken on trust, he has a laid-back running style, and the ground will be to his liking. He has continued to work well, and he may just have the edge over the Brian Meehan-trained course winner Raaeq, who like the selection, is a lightly weighted three year old, with a progressive profile.

Aim For The Stars - 8.30 Wolverhampton

Aim For The Stars²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 85

13/2

Aim For The Stars had the fourth well beaten off when a close third to Tawreed at Kempton on his latest to two outings and he should appreciate the step up in trip in the closing Sky Sports Racing Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton. James Tate's three year old ran on nicely in the closing stages to go down by less than a length to the more experienced Tawreed and Perfect Inch. He still looked a little green that day and more improvement is anticipated.

Haven Lady - 2.35 Catterick

Haven Lady²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: -

3/1

Haven Lady, a daughter of mud loving Belardo, should enjoy the testing conditions of the William Hill Fillies Novice Stakes at Catterick. There was plenty to like about her debut effort behind Mashkoorah at Newcastle last month, when she came from some way off the pace two out to finish only a length and half adrift of the winner. she picked up really well after a reminder inside the final furlong and is reported to have come on for the experience.

Hooper - 2.46 Market Rasen

Hooper⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: -

5/6

Nicky Henderson is hoping to have a winner or two this weekend and should kick things off on the right note with Hooper in the Mansionbet Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen. A disappointing favourite on his only outing in a bumper at Huntingdon last season, he showed his appreciation for a subsequent wind operation with a cosy win over Luttrell Lad in a bumper at Stratford last month. The form is not the easiest to weigh up, but Hooper has come on for the run, and should be able to see off recent Perth runner up Copperless.

Palladium - 3.21 Market Rasen

Palladium²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| BF

11/2

Palladium should also go close for Henderson in the Mansionbet Faller Insurance Handicap Hurdle. Although a half brother to Two Thousand Guineas winner Galileo Gold, he has the real make and shape of a jumper, and underlined the point with two wins from four starts over timber last term. Although sure to be sharper for this run, he looks sure to be stronger for his Summer break, and it is interesting to note that the horse he beat comfortably when doubling his tally back in February, Flic Ou Voyou, won twice in the space of three days earlier this month.

The Bomber Liston - 4.20 Ffos Las, Sunday

The Bomber Liston

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: N J Henderson| OR: -

11/8

Verdana Blue and Buzz spearhead the Henderson assault on a cracking afternoon's jumping on Sunday at Kempton and Ffos Las, and many at Seven Barrows will wear a happy face if The Bomber Liston makes a winning bow in the first division of Bumper at the latter venue. Due to make his debut at Chepstow last weekend until the ground dried, he has been showing plenty of potential in his homework.