Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops

Tips from the gallops

Cape Byron (3.35 Ascot, Sat)

Cape Byron can land a deserved first success in a valuable handicap in the Challenge Cup at Ascot on Saturday. Roger Varian has adopted a patient approach this season with the four year old, but he will be keen to put the record straight with two old rivals, who beat his progressive charge to five-figure prizes at Ascot and Goodwood on his last two starts. Connections have been delighted with the way Cape Byron has come back from those defeats, and hopes are high that he can go one better.

Eirene (4.10 Ascot, Sat)

There is a chance that rain may get into the ground for later in the card and this would suggest a bold show from Eirene in the Listed Neptune Management British October Stakes. Although she can handle just about any type of ground, she produced some very good form in the mud last season, and has showed her recent well being with very smart performances at Doncaster and Chelmsford.

Fille de Reve (2.05 Newmarket, Sat)

Fille de Reve has done us a couple of good turns in what has been a lucrative second half of the campaign and she can complete a hat-trick in the British Breeders Fillies Series Sprint Handicap at Newmarket. Ed Walker made a great decision when stepping this daughter of Iffraaj back to six furlongs, and she has continued to progress since her narrow win at Doncaster a month ago.

Turgenev (2.40 Newmarket, Sat)

Strapping Dubawi colt Turgenev can tee up a tilt at the Vertem Futurity Stakes at Doncaster with victory under a penalty in the British EBF Crown At Stowupland Novice Stakes at Headquarters. He left his debut effort well behind when winning in style at Newcastle less than a fortnight ago and although John Gosden isn't short of two-year-old talent, there's hope this fella can work his way into the big league.

Praxidice (3.50 Newmarket, Sat)

Praxidice lacks the experience of his 29 rivals in the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, but he can overcome the handicap after an impressive debut win at Carlisle. Karl Burke’s juvenile was always travelling strongly, and pulled clear in the closing stages for an emphatic three length win on a course which poses a tough test for a juvenile on his debut. He gets in with a lightweight here, and the fact he hails from a stable with some high class two year olds again this season, is another point in his favour.

Bella Regazza (4.25 Newmarket, Sat)

Bella Ragazza cut little ice in Group 3 company at Longchamp two weeks ago, but she remains a three year old on the up and is fancied to notch her third success of her first season in the EBF Breeder's Fillies Mile Handicap. She will appreciate the return to a lower grade, will have no problem handling the easier ground if the forecast rain materialises, and gets handy weight from leading Newmarket hopes Move Swiftly and Qazyna.

Fabricate (3.30 Longchamp, Sat)

Fabricate can do his bit for Queen and country on his first foray overseas in the Qatar Prix Dollar. Michael Bell's gelded son of Makfi gained a confidence-boosting win in Group 3 company at Windsor last time and it looks like he's on the verge of finishing the campaign as strongly as it started.

Beat Le Bon (2.45 Redcar, Sat)

Beat Le Bon is just preferred to Summer Daydream in the Listed Racing UK Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar. Well fancied to make a winning debut at Newbury in July, despite his two figure starting price, he just missed out after drawing clear with the eventual winner Momkin after a great battle in the closing stages. The Hannon team decided to up him to a mile for his only ither outing at Newbury, but he pulled too hard for his own good after his lay-off, and it is no surprise to see him come back in trip here. He will be sharper for that run, and looks capable of rewarding an each-way interest in a very open renewal of this valuable race.

Raid (4.00 Redcar, Sat)

Hayley Turner looks in for a decent day at Redcar, headed by Raid for David Simcock in the Listed Racing UK EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes. He's a quality performer and certainly looks the part in his work, while the forecast rain all over the country will play to his strengths.

Loxley (3.30 Longchamp, Sat)

Godolphin send a handy little team to Longchamp on Saturday, and Loxley looks to have a fine chance in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar. No stranger to cross-Channel success - he won twice at Deauville in August - he deserved a crack at the St Leger last month, but clearly did not see out the mile and three quarters. This return to ten furlongs should accommodate him nicely and he should prove too good for Harry Dunlop’s in form Knight To Behold.

Shut The Box (5.05 Fontwell, Sat)

Chris Gordon is always a man to keep a close eye on at Fontwell and he can land the bumper at the Sussex course with Shut The Box. The Morestead trainer went close to landing a mighty punt with the very useful Baddesley Knight in this corresponding race 12 months ago, and has a similar high opinion of this son of Doyen, who has summered well and is expected to build on his only racecourse appearance so far here in April.

Commanche Red (3.55 Fontwell, Sat/3.00 Uttoxeter, Sun)

Commanche Red, a stablemate of Shut The Box, should go well in what looks a tough introduction in the Royal British Legion Thank You Novices Hurdle, but this winner of a Kempton bumper is also in at Uttoxeter on Sunday. He looks worth a small interest wherever he travels.

Enable (3.05 Longchamp, Sun)

Enable is the best filly John Gosden has ever had through his hands and the star filly is cutting a formidable figure in her preparatory work ahead of her bid for a slice of history in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The whole year has been geared around repeating last year's French heroics and she's blossomed again since making a successful comeback at Kempton, hammering King George runner-up Crystal Ocean in the process. Her work under Frankie Dettori on Newmarket's famous all-weather Al Bahathri strip on Wednesday was sparkling. It will take something very special to beat her, especially after being handed a perfect draw in stall six.

Teppal (5.00 Longchamp, Sun)

Teppal is the forgotten horse in the Qatar Prix de la Foret and she looks set to surprise a few people. Unbeaten at two, she won the French Guineas at Longchamp on her return and although nowhere near that level when well beaten in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, she's pleased Simcock lately and retains potential dropping back to seven furlongs.

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