Timeform Eyecatcher of the Day

Timeform Eyecatcher: Saturday

AKKADIAN THUNDER

Eighth, 7f handicap, Ascot, Saturday 5 October

This was the final of numerous valuable and well-contested Heritage Handicaps over this trip here throughout the season and it looks potentially the strongest of the lot, the betting headed by a blue-blooded three-year-old who remains at the top of his game but he was no match for the well-backed and highly progressive Volterra who had this sewn up from a fair way out.

Further back in the field, Akkadian Thunder shaped much better than the bare result, and he is a horse to remain interested in. He was well supported, still going well when locked up with nowhere to go around two furlongs out, and he finished his race off well when getting a gap a furlong out under a hands-and-heels ride.

Akkadian Thunder finished with running left at the line having conceded first run on the principals and, still lightly raced for his age, he's sure to win more races, one of these likely to drop his way next season.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Friday

CAITHNESS

Second, 2m novice handicap chase, Hexham, Friday 4 October

Caithness has come to chasing relatively late at the age of eight but appeals as the type to thrive over fences for Lucinda Russell and made an encouraging start after four months off, that absence possibly the reason he just failed after shaping best.

Jumping fine, he kept tabs on the front-running winner The Churchill Lad, was poised to challenge from the home turn and produced to lead close home, only to be headed again by that race-fit rival in the dying strides.

By Dylan Thomas, also sire of the stable’s top-class chaser Ahoy Senor, Caithness, a dual winner over hurdles at Kelso last season, will be suited by two and a half miles.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday

HARRYS HOPE

Won, 2m4f handicap chase, Southwell, Thursday 3 October

Those with previous chasing experience were an exposed bunch, so it wasn't a surprise that a chase debutante came out on top, and Harrys Hope did so in the style of one to follow.

She had some fair form over hurdles, but was a winner in Irish points, and has long since left the impression she would be seen to much better effect once sent chasing.

Harrys Hope attracted support and duly proved a different proposition after six months off, jumping soundly and making rapid headway out wide leaving the home turn. She quickened up well to assert between the last two fences and is very much the type to rack up a sequence in this sphere, while she also has longer trips to explore.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Wednesday

SO DARN HOT

Third, 6f novice, Kempton, Wednesday 2 October

So Darn Hot was too green to get competitive on his debut at Salisbury in June but, having been gelded and given a breathing operation since then, he fared much better and was a promising third at Kempton on Wednesday.

So Darn Hot was held up in rear after breaking slowly and he was short of room when trying to make headway two furlongs out, but he picked up strongly once getting a gap and put in some eye-catching late work to miss out on second by only a neck.

The way So Darn Hot ran on suggests he will relish stepping up in trip to at least seven furlongs, while his pedigree also backs up the view that he can improve again when there is more emphasis on stamina.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Tuesday

SPIRIT OF ACKLAM

Third, 1¼m handicap, Ayr, Tuesday 1 October

Spirit of Acklam had been off since failing to beat a rival home in the London Gold Cup at Newbury in May but he shaped with plenty of encouragement on his return at Ayr despite understandably looking a touch rusty.

Spirit of Acklam had to be shaken up around half a mile out but he battled his way to the front around a furlong out and then stuck to his task after he was headed, ultimately beaten around half a length in third.

He's entitled to strip fitter for the outing and is one to be interested in next time, while it's worth noting that he is proven on heavy ground so testing conditions at the back-end of the season won't pose a problem.

Timeform Eyecatcher: Monday

MOONSTONE BOY

Third, 5f handicap, Hamilton, Monday 30 September

Moonstone Boy was unable to complete the hat-trick at Hamilton but he shaped better than the bare result when beaten a length and a quarter in third.

Moonstone Boy was awkward leaving the stalls which placed him on the back foot, and he had to use some petrol to secure a good position.

That early effort possibly told late on as Moonstone Boy had no more to offer inside the final half-furlong, and he was held when forced to switch close home, but he showed he remains on a competitive mark despite going up 6 lb for his couple of wins in August.

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