Our gossip column has a strong fancy in the bet365 Gold Cup plus news of a unraced two-year-old to look out for next week.
Saturday best bets:
3.35 Sandown
2.55 Ripon
6.15 Doncaster
Philip Hobbs can end what has been a tortuous season on a high with Rock The Kasbah in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.
Usually towards the top of the Premier League of jumps trainers, Hobbsy has had to suffer throughout the winter with his team under the weather. However, they are in back great nick now and Rock The Kasbah, looks worth an interest in a race which should also feature Sugar Baron and Step Back very strongly.
The selection has some very solid form behind him, including a two-and-a-quarter lengths sixth in this corresponding race 12 months ago. With a better run through the field - he was hampered on more than one occasion - he would have give the principals more to do but the big plus should be the fitting of cheek pieces for the first time.
They can help sharpen him up and provide his trainer with a third success in the race following the victories of Lacdoudal and Monkerhostin.
Nicky Henderson has a busy afternoon as he receives his latest champion trainer trophy and he has a good team backing up his banker on the card, Altior, in the Bet365 Celebration Chase.
Call Me Lord has shown a liking for this course in his short history at Seven Barrows and can repeat his last day success here a year ago in the Grade Two Bet365 Select Hurdle. The five-year-old doubled his tally in a handicap here in January and only just missed out on the treble under a big weight in the Imperial Cup last month. This may look a tough assignment with his regular partner Daryl Jacob riding Wholestone for the same owner, but that rival has had a hard season and Call Me Lord could well improve further for the step up in trip.
Henderson can round off his memorable season in style with Soul Emotion in the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle. There was plenty of confidence behind this French Import when he hosed up on his first appearance on this side of The Channel here last month and he has done well in his work since. The fact the ground is easing is another plus and he looks a top prospect for next season.
Teruntum Star has shown his liking for Ripon in the past and can successfully concede weight all round in the At The Races 415 Handicap. Although he is racing off his highest mark here, a success over this course and distance in August rejuvenated his career and was fully expected by the ever-shrewd Kevin Ryan camp. He seems to have improved since that success and has been working very nicely in his prep this term.
Salazar, a stablemate of Teruntum Star, can see off the fancied Key Player in the Ladies Day 21st June Novice Stakes. He disappointed at York on his second and final start as a juvenile after making a winning debut at Ayr but looks the sort to go well fresh and should appreciate the fitting of cheek pieces for the first time.
Frank Bridge ran much better than his final finishing position suggests on his comeback at Newmarket 11 days ago and looks worth an interest in the Riponbet Place6 Lucky Dip Handicap.
Eve Johnson Houghton's charge won three of his nine starts last season and has come down the weights a bit after falling away a little towards the end of his campaign. He should handle the ease in the ground and the stable are in good form.
Jallotta can make a winning return to action in the Listed totepool King Richard III Stakes at Leicester.
A good third in the Group Two at Sandown on this corresponding weekend 12 months ago, connections have opted for this slightly easier option this time around because they believe seven furlongs suits him better than the mile at the Esher course. He should handle the easy ground and has pleased in his recent work on the Faringdon Road gallops.
Ornamental looks the sort to progress this term and is fancied to make it third time lucky in the Morgan Sindall Sweco Maiden Stakes at Doncaster.
He showed plenty of promise in his two outings as a two year old, most notably when chasing home Tallow on this course in November. He handled the soft ground well that day and underfoot conditions are likely to suit him a bit better than The Establishment, who showed up well on his debut at Lingfield.
Clive Cox is about to get under way with one or two of his more serious two-year-olds and one name to reach our ears is the well bred son of Dark Angel, High Horse.
There will be be plenty of jockeys wanting to get on this half brother to Dandy Man after some very encouraging preparatory gallops but his trainer has decided to duck a weekend engagement at Doncaster in favour of Wednesday alternatives at Ascot or Bath.
Wherever he turns up, he looks well worth noting.