Power Could Enhance Fine Wexford Record On Sunday

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after watching Milrow run a storming race at Cheltenham. I thought Sean Houlihan had given him an absolute beaut of a ride and as they turned in to face the final two hurdles there was nothing travelling better. Milrow jumped slickly throughout, pinged the last and when Houlihan gave him the office he stormed up the hill. Houlihan’s route to victory up the inner was blocked off by the winner though, and when he snatched up and switched Milrow to the outer all momentum was lost. Still, we got our each way money at odds of 66/1 and I fancy another one at a monster price at Wexford tomorrow.

Rachael Blackmore was on board for Glens DD's best run.

Garrett Power is a trainer that is far from a household name but his record with his jumpers at Wexford is second to none. He has had 15 runners there down through the years and 6 of those have won. A further 5 top 4 finishes means he has an astonishing frame hitting strike rate of 73% and I think Glen’s DD looks a very interesting contender for him in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 14.35. This 5yo daughter of Dubai Destination has yet to get her head in front after 6 hurdle runs but her best effort came on her only outing over hurdles on soft and Rachael Blackmore is back on board for the first time since.

That maiden run at Roscommon came over 2 miles and Glen’s DD was doing all her best work at the finish. She was held up and as they approached the 3rd last flight it looked as though she would finish 6th at best. However, she finished the race off really well and managed to get up for 4th, closing on the first three all the way to the line. Her four subsequent runs, three handicap hurdles and one on the level, all came on good ground and she was well beaten every time, pulling up in two of the hurdle runs.

Every cloud has a silver lining though and her opening handicap mark of 95 has been slashed to 85 after those poor efforts. On the form of her Roscommon run she should be well capable of being competitive off that rating. The winner of that maiden has won 5 races in both codes since and is now rated 119. The 3rd home has since won a maiden, the 6th also won a maiden and a handicap off 98 and the 7th also won a maiden and is now rated 112. That would suggest that Glen’s DD is well treated off 85 now returning to soft ground.

This mare has a lovely pedigree and her dam Glen’s Magic is very well related. Her half sister Glens Music won multiple races but she has made a big mark as a broodmare, producing Cheltenham Grade 1 winner Glens Melody as well as a host of other black type jumpers. Glens Melody and some of her half siblings stayed 3 miles with no problems at all and I am hoping that Glen's DD has inherited some of that stamina. On the evidence of her good run at Roscommon she looks well worth persisting with at this trip and back on an easy surface I think she is worth chancing each way for small stakes at 40/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 14.35 WEXFORD-GLEN'S DD E/W @ 40/1  

Step Up In Trip Could Suit Milrow At Cheltenham

Quiet Reflection couldn’t give connections the fairytale ending they yearned for last weekend but she has been a wonderful filly for them. She gave them some fantastic days out and the highlight was probably her Group 1 win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. I feel privileged to have witnessed her last career win at Naas and there will be plenty of interest in her at the sales. It will take a hefty bid to land her and I can't wait to see her progeny run. Tomorrow I like the look of one at a monster price at Cheltenham and I think Milrow could outrun his odds for in form handler Sophie Leech.

 

Sophie Leech is a shrewd operator.

She also runs previous course winner Anteros who wouldn’t be without a chance if reproducing the form he showed this time last year. However, Milrow is a complete unknown quantity at this trip and he went into my notebook on his penultimate start when trying his furthest trip yet at Newton Abbott (21.5f gd/fm). This 4yo son of Tamayuz isn’t exactly bred for this sort of trip over timber and his three career wins have come at around 2 miles.

However, his half brother Canni Thinkaar won at 22.5f and his dam is by Lahib and he is a sire that has produced plenty of strong stayers down through the years. Milrow didn’t run any sort of race last time at Chepstow off 125 but the drop back in trip to 19f and slight ease in the ground are valid excuses for that below par effort. This fella is at his very best on good ground or better and conditions will be much more to his liking at Cheltenham on Saturday.

As I stated earlier he went into my notebook on his penultimate start at Newton Abbott over 21.5f when he stayed on eye catchingly for 3rd behind the highly progressive Golden Birthday, and he has gone on to win twice on the level since. He was 10L behind the winner but only 3/4 of a length behind the runner up Wait For Me, and that 142 rated horse went on to score on his chase debut next time out.

Milrow endured a troubled passage throughout that race and he was fairly badly hampered when the favourite fell at the 7th fence. He was held up in rear by young Sean Houlihan and as they turned for home he ran into trouble more than once. Houlihan had to stop riding for a moment as they approached the 2nd last but when he eventually did find a bit of daylight between the last two Milrow stayed on very well and almost got up for 2nd.

After that run it was surprising to see him dropped back in trip next time out but perhaps that run at Chepstow was just a sighter to put him right for this first crack at 3 miles. Leech and Houlihan were unlucky not to have a winner on Friday with Man Of Plenty and though Houlihan is yet to partner a winner for the yard he has been in the first four on 5 of his 8 rides for them. Hopefully he hits the frame again on Milrow on Saturday and at odds of 66/1 he has to be worth a pound or two each way.

I have also tipped up three horses for Mybettingbonus tomorrow and you can find out what I fancy by clicking here.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 15.45-MILROW E/W @ 66/1 (5 PLACES PADDY POWER)

Champions Sprint Stakes

The flat season is drawing to a close but there is one last hurrah at Ascot on Saturday. Champions Day sees some of the best horses in the world taking each other on and one of my favourite races is the 6f Champion Sprint Stakes. A fantastic field of 13 of the speediest colts, geldings and fillies on the planet have been declared and if you blink, you might miss it. The mighty Harry Angel is a short price to complete a hat trick of wins at the highest level but he isn’t guaranteed to have things all his own way. Read my thoughts on what should be a thrilling race below.

The Main Contenders

Harry Angel

Clive Cox has repeatedly shown he has a special way with sprinters and Harry Angel is surely the jewel in his crown. This 3yo son of Dark Angel has flourished this season and he is looking to win his third Group 1 in a row at Ascot on Saturday. Bought by Godolphin after a cracking effort here at the Royal meeting (6f gd/fm) when narrowly beaten by Caravaggio, he has gone from strength to strength for the boys in blue. On a similar surface he proved far too good for crack fast ground sprinter Limato at Newmarket in the Group 1 July Cup, racing up with the pace and putting the race to bed a furlong out.

He showed that heavy ground held no fears when hosing up in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time out and he comes into this race as a worthy favourite. However, he has been on the go since the 3rd of May and whether he will still be at his very best in mid October remains to be seen. Horses aren’t machines after all, and it would be some training performance by Cox to get him here in the same shape he was in at Newmarket and Haydock. He is a best price of 11/10 for Saturday but I think there is better value to be found elsewhere.

Caravaggio

There is huge hype centred on the Aidan O’Brien yard at the moment as he chases down the record total of 25 Group 1 wins in a season held by Bobby Frankel. He is one behind, and the law of averages would suggest he will equal, and probably break the record this weekend. Enigmatic sprinter Caravaggio looks to be his best chance of glory in this race, but this horse is far from reliable and he is not one for maximum faith.

He looked the real deal when beating Harry Angel at Royal Ascot, but in hindsight that was more a result of one of his stablemates harassing the Cox horse than his actual ability. He was firmly put in his place next time, not only by Harry Angel but also by Limato and Brando too. It was far from smooth last time out when he beat Alphabet by a length in a Group 2 at the Curragh and that form won’t suffice here. He is 2nd favourite because of who he is trained by rather than what he has achieved, and I think he is more a 10/1 shot than his current price of just 9/2.

Quiet Reflection

Four of the thirteen entries in this race are owned by Coolmore, including the 2nd fav, and the favourite is owned by Godolphin, all powerhouses of the equine world. The third in the market is owned partly by the Ontoawinner Syndicate and this filly more than deserves her place in a race of this nature. She has been a flagbearer not only for Karl Burke, but also for Ontoawinner and the ragtag bunch of characters that own her.

This 4yo daughter of Showcasing is already a dual Group 1 winner so she owes connections nothing, but I think she could complete the hat trick at Ascot on ground that is sure to suit. Since turning three she is unbeaten on ground with soft in the description and after a rare poor effort at Haydock on ground quicker than ideal back in May she looked back to her brilliant best at Naas in a Group 3 last time. The rain has arrived in time, she has a searing turn of foot and I think at odds of 7/1 she looks by far the best value in this race.

The Tin Man

The only other horse in the field that is a single figure price is last year’s winner of this race, The Tin Man. This 5yo son of Equiano was very impressive on the good ground that day and he showed his liking for this track with another win here in the Diamond Jubilee when defeating Tasleet by a neck on good to firm ground. However, he has found Harry Angel far too good the last twice and another worry for his supporters has to be the underfoot conditions.

This fella has done all his winning on good or good to firm ground and while he has solid placed form on soft and heavy he simply isn’t as effective on it and it seems to blunt his turn of foot. The rain that has already fallen won’t be to his liking and with even more forecast it will further dent his chance of a repeat win. He should run his usual solid race though and it would be no big surprise to see him sneak a place.

The Best Of The Rest

At bigger prices there are a couple of horses that could go well, and Tasleet is one of them. William Haggas’ 4yo son of Showcasing was only a neck behind The Tin Man in the Golden Jubilee, he chased home Harry Angel last time on heavy and he should run well again without winning. Brando is another solid performer but he is at his best on good or better so conditions are not in his favour. Dashing grey Librisa Breeze has been running well in these types of races without looking good enough to win one, but he will handle the ground, he goes well at the track and at a nice price he could hit the frame.

Verdict

This is a cracking renewal of the Champion Sprint Stakes and it really is an intriguing race from a tactical viewpoint. There are no secrets regarding the running style of Harry Angel and he will look to dictate matters from out in front. Aidan O’Brien saddles both Washington DC and Alphabet and it would be no surprise to see the latter try and hassle Harry Angel up front. The worries for Harry Angel supporters are that he gets taken on for the lead and runs out of gas and also that he has failed to win on two previous visits to Ascot. He has been on the go since early May too and this could be a race too far for him. Whatever happens, a furious early pace looks assured and there is one filly that will really enjoy a fast run race.

Quiet Reflection is at her best when held up off a strong pace and she will get that at Ascot on Saturday. She will absolutely relish the underfoot conditions and she looked back to her brilliant best when hosing up at Naas last time. This is obviously a tougher task but she is already a dual Group 1 winner, including the Commonwealth Cup here, and I think Martin Harley will produce her fast and late to land the spoils. She will be dropped in behind the early leaders and few will be travelling better two furlongs out. When Harley presses the button she can demonstrate her trademark turn of foot and claim a third Group 1 for the Ontoawinner Syndicate and Karl Burke. The Tin Man and Librisa Breeze ccould be the ones to chase her home.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 1. QUIET REFLECTION 2. THE TIN MAN 3. LIBRISA BREEZE

Croke’s Mare Looks Overpriced At Punchestown

Minellacelebration didn’t hit the frame for us at Chepstow but I do think he ran better than his finishing position of 5th suggests. He was always playing catch up after Ben Poste lost an iron when making a mistake at the first fence and he had to race a lot further back in the field than is usually the case. He travelled into the race well half a mile from home and at around 3 out it looked as though he was going to produce a big challenge. However, he faded in the final couple of furlongs and ended up in 5th. He is not one to lose faith in yet and he is capable off his current mark.

 

Vanellope looks a huge price for Peter Croke and Harley Dunne.

Tomorrow at Punchestown I like the look of one at a monster price in the 20f maiden hurdle at 15.10 and I think Vanellope is way overpriced for Wicklow based trainer Peter Croke with regular partner Harley Dunne in the saddle claiming 5lb. This daughter of Presenting made a very pleasing return to action after a Summer break at Ballinrobe last time and she travelled and jumped well for a long way before emptying in the closing stages behind the easy Willie Mullins trained winner.

This mare made a big impression on me last season when winning a soft ground 20f bumper at Wexford, springing an apparent surprise by beating long odds on favourite Burren Life. There was no fluke about the win though, as Vanellope travelled all over her rival before kicking clear over 2f out and easing down in the closing stages for a facile victory. She was stepped up into Grade 3 company around here on her next start but she likely found the ground a shade lively that day.

The second favourite in this maiden hurdle, Borderline Chatho, only beat Burren Life by just over a length so on that piece of form there is nothing between him and Vanellope. Peter Croke is far from a household name and that is why this horse is such a big price and if she was trained by Mullins, Elliott or Meade she would be a lot shorter. This obviously looks a very tough race so stakes should be kept to a minimum, but I think odds of 66/1 about Vanellope are an insult to connections and at that price she has to be worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 15.10 PUNCHESTOWN: VANELLOPE E/W @ 66/1 

Minella Could Give Cause For Celebration At Chepstow

I thought Ceatharlach ran a very nice race for us at Downpatrick earlier, but unfortunately not nicely enough to reward each way support. He was held up in rear travelling well and as Paddy Kennedy began to make his move I thought he was going to have a big say at the finish. However, his effort petered out in the last couple of furlongs and he could only manage 5th. I still believe this horse has more than enough ability to win races and it will be interesting to see what mark the handicapper gives him.

 

Ben Poste gets on well with Minellacelebration.

Quiet Company was also fairly well beaten at Dundalk and my fears regarding the step up in trip proved to be well founded. He travelled well for a long way and when Smullen switched him wide I thought a withering run down the outside was imminent. He found very little though and Smullen wasn’t hard on him once his chance had gone. I think this horse still has a bit more improvement in him at the correct trip (his dam was best as a 4yo/5yo) and hopefully somebody I know buys him at the sales as I would love to retain a stake in him!

Today I like the look of one in the 23.5f class 2 handicap chase at Chepstow at 16.45 and I think Minellacelebration is massively overpriced. This 7yo son of King’s Theatre was a highly progressive animal last season, starting out off a mark of 123 and finishing on a rating of 138. Of his three wins last term one came over this course and distance and he made a very pleasing return to action at Warwick last month. He was nailed on for a place at the very least before being brought down two out and he races off the same mark again here.

Ben Poste gets on really well with this gelding and he has finished in the first three on 8 of his 12 rides on him. He was brought down last time and fell on another occasion so when he has finished he has been in the money in 8/10 races with Poste in the plate. Minellacelebration won second time up last season which can be viewed as another big positive and the step back up into class 2 company holds no fears as his form figures at this level read 12, including a fine 2nd at Aintree last May off today's mark of 138.

His trainer Katy Price (no not that one!) is far from a household name and I believe if this horse was trained by a bigger name like Tizzard or Nicholls he would be a fraction of his current price. Good to soft ground is fine (he has won on ground ranging from heavy to good to firm) and he is proven at this track and over this trip. He races off a nice low weight, his jockey knows him inside out and his trainer had a winner earlier this month. At odds of 20/1 I think Minellacelebration is well worth an each way interest in a wide open looking race.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.45 CHEPSTOW-MINELLACELEBRATION E/W @ 20/1

Keep An Eye On Ceatharlach At Downpatrick

Unfortunately, Precious Gold was a non runner at Thurles earlier so we will never know how he would have gone. He was reported as lame by David Fitzgerald so at least he did the decent thing and didn’t take any chances. The horse I am involved with, Quiet Company, is back in action at Dundalk on Friday night and we are hoping for a good run. I am not sure that the step up in trip by almost 3f is going to suit him and he has a poor draw in stall 13. However, Mr Keatley says he is in good form at home and hopefully Pat Smullen conjures a good run out of him.

 

Colin Bowe has an excellent record at Downpatrick.

Tomorrow there are cracking cards of flat action at York and Newmarket and I have put up a trio of selections for those meetings for Mybettingbonus (click here to see them). There is one at a huge price that I like the look of at Downpatrick and while he might be a risky bet he could sneak a place after a very eye-catching run behind Avirico Blue at Clonmel last time. Ceatharlach is trained by Wexford handler Colin Bowe and though he didn’t show much on his first run under rules it was a lot better at Clonmel (17f sft).

He was well beaten on his seasonal comeback at Listowel but he was likely lacking race fitness that day and the 24f trip combined with bottomless ground proved too much for the 5yo son of Beneficial. Bowe dropped him in trip on slightly better ground last time and with his comeback run behind him he ran a cracker. He was dropped out in rear by Paddy Kennedy early on and as they turned for home he had a lot more horses in front than behind. He was still travelling strongly enough though and he started passing horses between the 3rd last and 2nd last.

As they approached the second last he seemed to be moving powerfully under hands and heels and between the last two it looked as though he would definitely challenge for a place. However, Kennedy managed to find trouble and got squeezed for room before the final hurdle and once he switched Ceatharlach his chance had gone. He ended up finishing 5th, 6L behind the easy winner, but I believe with a clearer run he would have finished a lot closer.

The step back up in trip should suit this point to point winner, as should the slightly better yielding ground. His trainer has an excellent record at Downpatrick too, sending out 17 winners and 30 top 4 finishers from just 84 runners for a frame hitting strike rate of over 55%. Paddy Kennedy has a win and 2 places from just rides for Bowe and he has ridden a couple of winners at Downpatrick so he knows the track well. Stakes should be kept small with this one as the fav looks solid and he could be just out for a mark, but at odds of 50/1 I think he could go well and he is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 14.50 DOWNPATRICK-CEATHARLACH E/W @ 50/1

Go For Gold At Thurles

Piranto was never sighted for us at Fairyhouse, in rear throughout and only staying on past beaten horses to finish 8th of 16, beaten over 50L. I still am of the opinion that he could be a better horse than he has shown so far and keep a close eye on him in the market for his next few runs, especially if he is upped further in trip. Don’t delete him from the tracker just yet!

Mark Enright knows his way around Thurles.

On Thursday I like the look of one for each way purposes at Thurles, and I think Precious Gold could outrun his odds stepped up in trip for David Fitzgerald and Mark Enright. This 4yo son of Rajj, a sire with very few progeny, ran fairly well in first time cheek-pieces at Down Royal last time (16f yld) and he has shaped on a couple of occasions that he might be effective at a trip over hurdles.

His sire is unusual in that he has never seen the track, but he has sired a couple of useful types on the level including Insayshable and Group 3 placed I’m So Fancy. He has yet to produce a winner over timber but his half brother Amberjam was a dual 3 mile hurdle winner for Oliver Sherwood last season and another half bro of his, Johnny Owen, also scored over hurdles at 2 miles.

That gives a bit of hope regarding today’s trip of 23f at Thurles and there is also cause for optimism on the dam side of his pedigree. She herself stayed at least 10f on the level and she has a half brother, Karajan, who won twice at 20f and who was placed at 24f. So, from a pedigree point of view, Precious Gold looks well worth a crack at this trip over hurdles and a couple of his previous runs suggest it too.

He produced arguably one of his most promising efforts on his hurdling debut at Roscommon (16f yld), held up in rear and staying on well to finish 5th of 13 beaten just over 10L for the win. The 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th from that contest have all gone on to win hurdle races since so it was a more than decent debut. He wore a tongue tie for the first time that day and that was discarded for his next three maiden hurdle runs and he was unsurprisingly well beaten.

The tongue tie reappeared for his handicap debut off 88 at Limerick back in July (16f gd) but he ran a poor race to ultimately finish well beaten. He was given a mini break after that underwhelming effort and he looked a lot more promising last time with first time cheekpieces added to the tongue tie off a mark of 86 at Down Royal (16f yld). He kept to the task well that day, if looking a little one paced, and on the evidence of that effort a step up in trip looks the obvious move.

The cheekpieces and tongue tie are retained at Thurles and Fitzgerald has booked Mark Enright for the ride. Danny Mullins rode him last time but 9st 11lbs is right on the limit for him these days so Fitzgerald has turned to Enright who will have no problem making weight. He has yet to ride for Fitzgerald but he knows Thurles well and he has 4 wins and 25 top 4 finishes there from 88 rides. Hopefully he enhances that fine frame hitting strike rate on Precious Gold on Thursday who I think is worth chancing each way for small stakes at odds of 33/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.45 THURLES-PRECIOUS GOLD E/W @ 33/1 (5 places Betfred)

Piranto Could Pounce Upped In Trip At Fairyhouse

Elusive Cowboy ran no sort of race for us at Kempton earlier this week, drifting in the market after being ‘backed’ early and I am not sure he was there to do his best. He was posted wide throughout and he must have travelled an extra furlong in comparison to his rivals. There will be other days for him no doubt and he is one to keep a close eye on if the handicapper drops him another few pounds.

 

Conor Maxwell is riding well at the moment.

Tomorrow there is a few interesting runners at Fairyhouse and all eyes will be on Fayonagh as she makes her hurdling debut. She is not a betting proposition at just 1/5 but she will be well worth watching with a view to bigger targets in the Spring. One horse that may be worth a bet on the card goes in the 20f handicap hurdle at 16.35 and I think Piranto looks an interesting contender stepping up in trip on handicap debut off a mark of just 83.

This 5yo daughter of Shantou is trained by MG Quinn, a name that will be familiar to regular readers of the blog. He trains a horse called Shelbe and I tipped him up for his first win at odds of 22/1 in November 2016. Quinn is a trainer who is well able to ready one and I think that Piranto could be a better horse than she has shown so far. She is certainly bred to be better than an 83 mare as her sire is top class and her Luso dam, a half sis to Ballynagour’s dam, is out of a full sister to the classy hurdler Mighty Mogul.

At first glance form figures of 606000 would not inspire confidence and her last two runs in maiden hurdles in September (both 16f yld at Down Royal and Navan) were particularly disappointing. However, she showed a definite glimmer of ability when finishing 10th of 20 on her first maiden hurdle run back in April (16f gd), finishing well beaten for the win but keeping on fairly nicely in the closing stages despite being hampered by a faller late on.

She also had three runs in bumpers and the third of those was by far her best run. She finished 6th of 16 at Down Royal (16.5f yld/sft) beaten 17L for the win, but she again was doing all her best work at the finish and she shaped as though a longer trip would suit. She finished 9L behind a horse called Simone that day and she was subsequently beaten just 5L in a Grade 3 and won a bumper at Punchestown before being sold for 105k.

On the bare form of that run a mark of 83 should be well within this mare’s reach and I think she was running for a mark on her first two runs this season. Conor Maxwell, on board for her best hurdle run, has been booked for the ride and he is riding with real confidence at the moment. He landed a nice touch for on fire handler Dermot McLoughlin at Gowran last week and he has ridden 7 winners at Fairyhouse during his career so he knows how to win at the track.

This is obviously a speculative selection given how Piranto has run on her last two starts but Shelbe ran a nice race for Quinn at Dundalk on Friday night so he evidently has his string in decent shape. With a horse like this stakes should be kept to a minimum as it is no certainty that today will be the day for her. However, I think at odds of 33/1 she is worth chancing each way and if she can repeat the form of her bumper run at Down Royal I think she could go well in what looks a desperately weak race.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.35 FAIRYHOUSE-PIRANTO E/W @ 33/1

Cowboy Could Gain Elusive Second Win At Kempton

Walkers Point ran an absolute cracker for us last week and as they approached the 2nd last it looked as though he was going to hack up. He travelled supremely well into the race having been held up in rear throughout and there was nothing going better as the race took shape in the closing stages. Unfortunately, the tank emptied between the last two obstacles and he faded out of it late on into a frustrating 4th. I think the soft ground may have sapped his stamina and back on a sounder surface he can get his head in front.

 

Chris Gordon has his string in super form.

Tomorrow I like the look of one at a big price at Kempton and I reckon Elusive Cowboy could outrun his massive odds for in form trainer Chris Gordon. He is a handler best known for his exploits with his jumpers and he has had 3 winners and a 2nd from his last 7 runners in that discipline. However, he knows how to train winners on the level too and in Elusive Cowboy he has a horse that looks handicapped to run a big race after a couple of disappointing efforts on ground softer than ideal.

This 4yo son of Elusive Quality’s sole win in 17 career starts (5 over hurdles) came on the all weather at Wolverhampton last December when he was trained by Stuart Edmunds. He stayed on well for a near 2L win that day off a mark of 68 and he found life tough off his revised mark after that smooth success.  He was sold out of the Edmunds yard for 8.5k back in June of this year and he made an encouraging start for his new connections when staying on well for 5th at Newbury off a mark of 70 (11f gd/fm).

He had a spin over hurdles after that decent effort at Newton Abbott when well beaten, and it was a similar story the last twice back on the level at Newbury (13.5f soft) and Lingfield (10f gd/sft). However, this horse has never been at his best when there has been cut in the ground so I think a line should be put through those two below par efforts. The handicapper has eased his mark significantly after those two runs and he gets to race off a rating of just 60 at Kempton.

That is a full 8lb below his last winning mark and 10lb lower than for that good effort at Newbury over an inadequate 11f when beaten just over 7L. As was pointed out earlier, his yard is in tip-top form at the minute and an in form apprentice has been booked in the shape of Kieran Shoemark. This will be his first ride for Chris Gordon and I am sure he will be eager to make a big impression. A return to form could be on the cards for Elusive Cowboy and at odds of 25/1 he is worth chancing each way for small stakes.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 21.10 KEMPTON-ELUSIVE COWBOY E/W @ 25/1