Ian Ogg has the best bets from around the tracks this Saturday and his Nap runs at Thirsk.
NEW IMAGE looks a good project for David O'Meara and can shrug off a 4lb rise for his latest success.
The Juddmonte cast-off showed promise on his racecourse bow for Ger Lyons but ran only once more in 2022 before changing hands in May of last year. The Frankel gelding ran over five and six furlongs on his first two starts for O'Meara - winning the first of them - but looked more at home over this trip at Southwell last time when hitting the line strongly. There could be a good deal more to come from this well bred individual who may well need to win well in order to qualify for more valuable prizes next month.
Well backed on his reappearance at Newbury, DASHING DARCEY ran well to finish a close second and backed that up with a solid run at Chester's May meeting when a never nearer third behind handicap blot Never So Brave.
Slowly away on the Roodee - as he was at Newbury - he struggled to get involved in a race dominated by those on the pace but this more conventional track can help to show Dashing Darcey in a better light while Aidan Keeley's claim is an added bonus.
It isn't only Bracken's Laugh who has advertised KING'S GAMBIT's form with August third Boiling Point now rated 107 and the second from that race on 92. The Haynes, Hanson & Clark third and fourth were beaten a head and a neck in a Sandown handicap - by one of Harry Charlton's - off 98 and 86 and have both been bumped up a pound which all suggests King's Gambit should be able to win races from 93. That isn't be enough alone in a deep race but the trainer's father won this prize with smart performers in Al Kazeem, Time Test, Imperial Aviator and Headman and King's Gambit has the scope to make up into a high-class colt with the scope to progress significantly this season.
It's been a quiet flat season for Sara Ender but MR ZIPPI is an interesting recruit to handicaps and could make his mark at the first attempt at a more suitable level. By Intello out of the top-class Izzi Top, connections weren't dreaming of winning a Southwell bumper when he was foaled but he was impressive there on his racecourse bow before following up under a penalty at Market Rasen. Neither race was strong and he was well beaten in better company at Aintree but Mr Zippi won those races in style and showed enough in three qualifying flat runs to believe that he can make his mark in modest handicaps and the booking of the promising Ethan Jones takes the eye.
SHANDANCER made an eyecatching debut for Dr Newland and Jamie Insole when keeping on well from off the pace at Plumpton. There are caveat as he's still a maiden after 20 races, has form over further and has been tried in a variety of aides but he's well treated on the pick of his form for Amy Murphy and is just the type of individual that his stable has enjoyed plenty of success with over the years.
A good number of this field are fighting against the dying of the light; as the handicappers' grip relents there may be one or two more glory days to come before the sun sets but the best days of TAKE NO CHANCES are still ahead of her. That will be reflected by her price but Dan Skelton's mare is unexposed over staying trips after only three starts at around three miles.
She pulled up at the first attempt but won well at Warwick last time and her previous neck defeat by Zain Nights reads well with the winner now 16lbs higher having completed her hat-trick with wins at Cheltenham and Haydock. Take No Chances has a 7lb higher mark to contend with but can prove up to the task.
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