STARCAT, who finished a well-beaten seventh in the 2000 Guineas earlier in the season, is fancied to build on a promising run at Goodwood more recently in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap at Doncaster on Wednesday.
Hughie Morrison's chestnut was clearly well enough regarded to warrant a Classic challenge after winning on his debut at Kempton last December but, having pressed for the lead at Newmarket, he became outpaced in the closing stages behind Kameko and co.
After making no show in soft ground in the Britannia at Royal Ascot in June, the step up to this distance of a mile-and-a-quarter at Goodwood seemed to suit Starcat and, under a more patient ride, he made relentless headway up the home straight despite never getting a clear run until late on behind the shock winner Junkanoo.
That form has not worked out too well subsequently, but the selection still shaped very promisingly over the new trip on a difficult course for a horse who was having just his fourth lifetime start.
Now fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time, Sean Levey's mount can build on that effort and prove that some of the early confidence which inspired a tilt at the top was not entirely misplaced.
Earlier, LYZBETH can prove a value bet returning to seven furlongs for the first time this season in the bet365 Sceptre Fillies Stakes.
A course and distance winner last July, the lightly-raced daughter of Zoffany beat the in-form Bungee Jump over six at Goodwood first time out this term and then found the same distance at York in Group Three company a bit too quick when a not disgraced sixth behind Queen Jo Jo.
It is worth noting that Lyzbeth has so far always been best fresh and, reappearing here after a near two month break, she may well have been set aside for this since York.
On ratings, the selection has a bit to find but some of the leading contenders look potentially flakey, such as Jubiloso who ran badly at Royal Ascot and Cloak Of Spirits who hasn't been able to repeat her second to Love in the 1000 Guineas.
There are some tricky races on the Doncaster card and, theoretically, none more so than the Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes in which all the runners are rated within a few pounds of each other towards the top of the 0-70 ratings bracket.
Most are quite well exposed but there may be some improvement in the twice-raced AOIFE'S JOY who could arguably be rated above 70 on her debut fourth at Thirsk after which she filled the same position on soft ground at Beverley.
Despite going off at 80-1 first time out, the daughter of Elzaam ran creditably behind the experienced Glen Force finishing just two lengths behind the runner-up and recent Redcar winner Wondrous Words (who is now rated 84) at level weights.
At Beverley, Aoife's Joy again ran solidly, keeping on well in the closing stages over the seven furlongs and beaten four lengths behind the Charles Hills-trained King's Knight without looking as if the more testing surface necessarily suited her.
With just a little improvement for those two efforts, she has a chance to be involved here under Graham Lee and appeals each-way at a big price.
Posted at 1655 BST on 08/09/20
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