Matt Brocklebank is on hand with the best bets across Friday's meetings with the Nap running at Doncaster.
Ffos Las maiden winner FINE INTERVIEW was a non-runner on account of the going at Catterick (officially soft) earlier this month but he's since proven that to be a slightly odd decision with a decisive victory at Pontefract and a valiant effort in second at Catterick just six days ago. Timeform called the ground heavy on both of those recent outings so he's clearly happy enough with dig underfoot (as his pedigree would suggest) and, considering the last run should be marked up as he did much the best of those held up in rear early on, the grey is backed to overcome another 2lb rise in the ratings here.
Nicky Henderson's relatively new recruit In The Air is the obvious one here and he's still well handicapped on old form despite a 5lb rise for his narrow success last time out at Exeter, but SUPPORT ACT looks something of a rising force and he could step forward massively now sent down this route. The Wetherby bumper winner scored as he liked in a two-mile novice hurdle at Doncaster in February and, given he's closely related to a bunch of stayers, he should be well suited to this sort of trip this season. If he's fit enough to do himself justice, a mark of 113 looks perfectly workable and he will give the favourite plenty to think about.
It's already been a fine week for Brian Ellison with Onesmoothoperator winning big money in Australia and HARTUR D'OUDAIRIES could be able to keep the ball rolling for the yard, albeit at a relatively moderate level at Newbury. The son of Kapgarde seems happiest when the mud is flying and he caught the eye running in into sixth over the extended 10 furlongs at York earlier this month. He's a dual winner over hurdles so could be very well suited to this proper test of stamina on the Flat and, off a 2lb lower mark, he's got to be worth an interest while ground conditions are so favourable.
Billy Loughnane and George Boughey are always worth respecting and WIDE MARGIN looks a potential improver for the duo as he goes back up in trip on handicap debut. The recent outing in a seven-furlong Southwell maiden did have the look of a sharpener as he got tired after leading, which was fully expected after a 309-day break, so I'd expect him to be physically tighter on this occasion, and that form looks decent enough with the second and third finishing first and second at Newcastle subsequently. There are several winning milers on the dam's side of the pedigree which suggests the distance will be no issue at all and stall eight might not pose too many problems either if getting away sharply enough and able to pick up a prominent early sit.
This looks a good renewal of this Listed event with several progressive types on show, but it was impossible not to be impressed by the manner of TOO MUCH HEAVEN’s debut success over course and distance last month.
She made plenty of appeal on paper – she’s a half-sister to very smart sprinter Regional – attracted support and looked well above average and she blew her rivals out of the water.
Too Much Heaven knew her job, soon sent to the lead and travelling very powerfully, moving clear on the bridle over a furlong out and just kept up to her work in the closing stages to maintain her advantage.
Conditions are set to be testing at Newbury, but she sluiced through soft ground last month, appearing to relish underfoot conditions, and she is more than capable of making her mark in Listed company before having her sights raised even further. Richard Hannon also won this race 12 months ago.
Gavin Cromwell is a trainer to follow at Cheltenham, especially in the month of October, where he can boast an impressive 50% strike rate, helped by his three winners at this meeting 12 months ago.
He has several chances on Saturday, but at the prices, MILLFORCE may prove the best of them. It took him six attempts to get off the mark in points, though his form in that sphere is very solid, and he overcame a few scruffy leaps to get off the mark at the first attempt under Rules in a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in August.
The bare form of that success isn’t anything special, but he displayed a nice turn of foot on good ground, similar to what he will face at Cheltenham, and he also showed improved form in defeat when beaten a short head by a Willie Mullins improver in a novice over three miles at Cork earlier this month.
Again, his jumping wasn’t polished, so there is room for improvement in that area, but he arrives race-fit, will go on the ground, and is very much open to further progress, especially at this trip. At around 9/4, he is a little bigger in the betting than I would have thought.
WALK ON QUEST cost €44,000 as a three-year-old, but his sales price rocketed to £100,000 after finishing runner-up on his sole start in Irish points, and he has shown promise in four starts over hurdles so far.
He bumped into a handicap blot who has won again since when runner-up on his handicap debut over hurdles at Perth recently, travelling strongly but shaping as though he’d be sharper for the run on his first start for five months.
Walk On Quest was headed approaching the second-last and had no answer for the impressive winner from there, but he remains a good prospect, especially now switched to fences. This trip will likely be as short as he wants to go, but he is entitled to strip fitter now, and appeals as being particularly well treated now tackling fences for the first time for a yard who do so well with such types.
IRON LION has developed into a useful handicapper this season, winning three times up to a mile and a half, and that form stacks up well on the whole, particularly his latest win at Ripon from 4lb lower.
That rival went on to win a Heritage Handicap at York on his next start and he was only beaten half a length in the Mallard Handicap at the St Leger meeting last time from a BHA mark of 100.
Iron Lion himself has beaten just one rival home on his two starts since, which doesn’t look all that appealing on paper, but one came in the Ebor at York over a trip he isn’t proven at, and the other came in Listed company at Chester last time where he had plenty to find at the weights.
That race wasn’t run to suit, either, held up in a race where the first two home raced one-two throughout and Chester isn’t a track which is easy for hold-up horses to make too much ground up from the rear at the best of times.
Iron Lion can also boast a positive record at this course (two wins from three starts) and he goes particularly well in soft ground, also. There are a few who like to go forward in this field, so he should get a good tow into the race, and he looks too big in the betting from a mark he is capable of being competitive from.
SHAMARDIA has shown improved form since being switched to handicaps this season, opening her account over six furlongs at Lingfield last month, and she progressed further in defeat when bumping into a well-backed improver over the same course and distance next time.
She was by far the least exposed horse in the field when quickly resuming winning ways at Wolverhampton two starts back, always well positioned and just shaken up to take up the lead in the final furlong to score a little cosily.
Shamardia failed to beat a rival home back at Wolverhampton last time, but she is best not judged on that effort, having the worst of the draw and asked to do too much too while also being kept three-wide on the turn. It is little surprise that she dropped out of contention in the straight, but she is well worth another chance to prove herself still on the upgrade, bred to be much better than this grade after all, and she has also fared much better with the draw.
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