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Junkanoo shaped quite well back over hurdles at Plumpton on Sunday following a recent run on the Flat and should find this bringing him on further fitness wise, his effort petering out just as the market envisaged (easy to back near the off).
Held up by Caoilin Quinn, Junkanoo made progress three out, and, having been shaken up on the home turn, was disputing third jumping the last before having no extra to give on the run-in.
Some of his novice form from last season – especially over the winter months - reads well and suggests his current BHA mark of 119 is exploitable.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsHe may have been no match for the hugely impressive Alfa Kellenic who had matters under control from a long way out on her way to a sixth successive victory, but Aramram shaped well in second in the Ayr Silver Cup and remains one to be positive about.
Aramram was in the same group as the winner before she burst clear and was allowed to drift left, but on the whole the far side seemed at an advantage so Aramram deserves plenty of credit for faring best of the rest, pulling clear of the others who raced towards the stand side.
He was unlucky to bump into such a progressive rival but he is eligible for much less competitive events than this one, and he is a three-year-old sprinter going in the right direction.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsKatakana won twice in France for previous connections but didn’t appear to be obviously well-bought in her juvenile hurdling campaign, finishing no better than a 10-lengths fourth in four starts over timber.
However, she shaped encouragingly sent chasing after 11 weeks off when third at Downpatrick on Friday and appeals as one her yard will do well with in this sphere.
Dropped out by Rachael Blackmore, Katakana took a strong hold but made smooth headway from early on the final circuit and held every chance approaching two out. She was forced to switch between the last two, before plugging on for her best finish since leaving France.
She is clearly not the most straightforward given her keen-going nature, but looks the type to pick up a nice prize further down the line.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsAyr is often a track where racing up with the pace can be an advantage and that proved to be the case with several races on Thursday, including the class 5 handicap over a mile.
The winner Dain Ma Nut In and short-head-runner-up Never Better were both up with the pace throughout, the winner rallying after making most, but the horses who finished directly behind caught the eye, most notably Quiet Resolve.
Without the cheekpieces and upped in trip, having had a breathing operation since he was last seen three months earlier, Quiet Resolve shaped well, nearest at the finish having been left with too much to do from a long way back.
This was Quiet Resolve’s first start against his elders, so he's still unexposed and is certainly one for the shortlist next time.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsAlmeric boasts a fine pedigree - he's out of a listed winner who is out of dual Champion Stakes winner Alborada - and he showed plenty to work with when fourth at Sandown on debut.
Almeric was held up in a race run at a modest gallop but he put in some good late work and was ultimately beaten only a couple of lengths, leaving the impression that he will benefit from a stiffer test in future.
He's a scopey sort who is entitled to progress with this promising effort under his belt.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsWinnebago had offered plenty to work with when fourth on debut at Newmarket last month and he again shaped really well when runner-up behind a promising rival at Yarmouth.
Winnebago was unable to match the winner's finishing effort but saw things out really well himself, pulling three and a quarter lengths clear of the third and running to the sort of level that would be good enough to win plenty of similar contests. He'll continue to progress and is one to be positive about.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsA fairly useful novice in which the gallop only really picked up from halfway and it paid to be handy, so Tawajjah can be marked up for his effort, given he came from a bit further back than ideal and shaped best overall.
He's bred to be smart - he's out of a half-sister to St Leger winner Kew Gardens - but was too green to do himself justice on his debut and sole start last year.
Tawajjah proved a totally different proposition on his return from 10 months off, though, and he was arguably unlucky not to win, storming home from an unpromising position and he was in front a stride after the line. He looks a useful prospect who should have no problem picking up a similar event, while he is likely to flourish when tried over further than a mile.
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