Matt Brocklebank has the Thursday selections with the Nap running on Sandown's evening card.
On the face of it, NAVAGIO took a real backward step in the Spring Cup, having made a pleasing start to his time with James Horton with a good third in the Lincoln, but Newbury appeared to go wrong from the outset and he looks worth another chance off a 1lb lower mark here. He could never get into a challenging position after missing a beat at the start last time but he's got a decent drawn in six over the mile course at Sandown, with Ryan Moore in for the ride for the first time. Any more rain in the area would be a welcome bonus and I like the switch to a turning course as he put in some excellent efforts around a bend in Ireland last year, including wins at Gowran and Limerick.
SEASMOKE travelled like a very well-handicapped horse before his run rather flattened out at Ludlow a month ago but he's surely going to be a major force (off the same mark) if settling a little better through the early stages on this occasion. The lightly-raced six-year-old was having his first run since January at Ludlow so perhaps it'll have blown the cobwebs away and it's hard to imagine the forecast rain will prove to be a negative for this son of Flemensfirth.
It was good to firm at the 48-hour declaration stage but there's going to be some ease in conditions come race time at Catterick and that should help DAZY MAZY, who won tidily on soft ground at Doncaster late last month. That represented a decent step forward from her comeback run when fifth at Thirsk earlier in April and there must be a chance - after just four turf starts in her life - that she improves again to shrug off the 6lb rise in the ratings. Stall four looks a handy spot for her to stalk the pace and pounce close home.
Sir Mark Prescott's horses are evidently clicking into gear now and GENESIUS looks well worth chancing on his seasonal debut. The seven-year-old ended the last campaign with a string of placed efforts over this sort of trip and, having won after a break last summer, he's probably one to catch when fresh. All ground comes alike and he looks well placed here in this 0-75 handicap on the Lingfield turf.
With Eeh Bah Gum, Mick's Spirit, Dark Side Prince and Chief Navy in the line-up, it looks like this is going to be run at a really good gallop and it might play into the hands of POPULAR DREAM. He ended his time with James Tate on a bit of a downer but has made a promising start since switching yards and almost broke his duck when beaten a neck by Dark Side Prince over this course and distance at the end of March. He's a pound better off with that rival now and can reverse the placings on such terms.
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