Weekly racing eyecatchers: Horses to follow and add to My Stable Tracker
Get the latest Notebook update from Peter Naughton as he adds horses to his tracker following the recent action.
Keep Coach on side
Keke wasn't helped by the draw when fifth in the 5f apprentice handicap at Navan on Saturday. Eddie Lynam's four-year-old was berthed in four of 23 and didn't break quickly but produced a strong finish on the far rail; the pace unfolded on the near side.
Gelded since his last run, he will be fitter after this first start in 198 days.
Sports Coach didn't enjoy conditions in the 5f handicap at Sandown on Friday. Karl Burke's classy three-year-old was prominent on the outer but lost second over a furlong out and became unbalanced.
Danny Tudhope reported the colt hung both ways and connections insisted he wasn't suited by the good to soft parts of the going. Keep with Sports Coach on a faster surface.
Rambuso Creek was unable to exploit a favourable draw from stall two when a close third in the 5f handicap at Beverley. Kevin Ryan's five-year-old made headway from rear over a furlong out and kept on gamely.
He needed the run when sixth at Thirsk two weeks earlier but this was a promising effort. The gelding has twice won after wind surgery, so that's the time to back him..
In the following 1m2f novice, Dambuster was ridden confidently and stayed on strongly to beat fancied Stay In The Game.
I interviewed Oisin Murphy on Racing TV afterwards and he revealed: "Andrew (Balding) told me he was ready to come to Beverley and he's progressing really well, so there's plenty more to come; this was very straightforward."
The winner landed a Sandown maiden on debut in September but was beaten in the Group Three Zetland Stakes at Newmarket in October. Gelded prior to this reappearance, the quality son of Kingman could be interesting when switching to handicaps.
At Ludlow on Wednesday, Dairylane Daisy benefited from first-time cheekpieces when a close second in the 2m5f mares' novices' handicap hurdle.
Noel Williams' six-year-old gave weight all round and was in touch before losing her position at the fourth. She made headway two-out and kept on to press winning favourite Mrs Tabitha on the run-in. The runner-up won an Irish point and can build on this very promising handicap debut.
Two for the weekend
Fivethousandtoone is fancied to defy a rise in the weights in the 6f handicap at Newmarket on Saturday.
Balding's classy sprinter produced a blistering turn of foot to win over the trip at Newcastle in March. Awkward leaving stall three and settled in rear before coming with a withering run from rear on the outside from two-out. Well on top at the line, the classy son of Frankel has improved markedly since fitted with a visor.
He was a close second in the Group Two Mill Reef four years ago, so has bundles of talent and is thriving with high confidence at present. He should get the fast gallop he relishes, and although now rated 105, could be Group-class.
At a lower level, Sub Thirteen can defy a small rise in the 5f handicap at Salisbury on Sunday.
Tony Carroll's speedy gelding justified very strong support in a three-year-old handicap at Bath last month but takes on exposed older rivals here. I loved the way kept on strongly on that first start since joining the stable. Expect further progress.
