The gelding, owned by the Reality Partnerships syndicate, won the race in 2023 and was a close third last year.
This year, he lines up for the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap on a mark four pounds lower than last year. With Jake Dickson claiming a useful seven pounds, it would be no surprise to see him sparkle again.
Veteran Brian The Snail may not be the force he was, but he’s still no slouch judging by his last run at Redcar, and he could have the bookies shelling out after the Celebrate National Racehorse Week Handicap.
The 11-year-old is by Zebedee and, therefore, named after a character in The Magic Roundabout, the much-loved children’s TV series of the sixties and seventies.
Once rated in the 100s when trained by Richard Fahey, the gelding is now trained on Merseyside by Patrick Morris and showed some of the old magic is still there when winning at Wolverhampton in April.
He was an eye-catching second of 12 behind Carlton and Co on his last run at Redcar and David Nolan retains the ride.
Nolan is a strong asset in the saddle, and he could be the man to follow because he’s also been booked by Michael Dods for Hale End in the Markse Fabrications and Engineering Handicap.
Hale End might easily be coming here seeking a hat-trick after having trouble in running on his last two starts – when finishing strongly to be fifth at Redcar and then beaten by a nose at Pontefract.
He remains on the same mark, will enjoy the fast ground, and reopposes the winner of that Redcar race, Paladin, on 4lbs better terms.
Middleham’s Ed Bethell looks to be well suitred for the Bakers Tailoring RBF Restricted Novice Stakes with Wonderful Friend, who was second to Richard Fahey’s highly rated Utmost Respect at Hamilton last time.
Utmost Respect was strongly touted for a nursery at York’s Ebor meeting on Wednesday but wasn’t given a hard time after not finding a clear passage, and Fahey has made no secret of his regard for the horse.
The Market Cross Jewellers Novice Stakes appears to be at the mercy of Eternal Force, trained at Newmarket by William Haggas. The son of Dubawi was second of 11 at Hamilton last time and this is surely his opportunity to score.
Nigel Tinkler’s Dandy Dinmont struck under Faye McManoman at Thirsk at the start of the month and the combination can defy a 3lb rise to follow up in the Redhill Contractors Limited Handicap.
