Following a 7/2 and 11/4 winners yesterday, Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's racing.
14:35 Plumpton
The Pat Murphy trained NEVERBEEN TO PARIS (best priced at 5-1) and Bryony Frost have developed a good partnership recently and they should hold strong claims in this race back down in trip. The six-year-old won over this course and distance in November off a mark of 111 before finding the 3 mile trip too far at Kempton on his next start when finishing last of 7.
Following that run connections switched him back to the flat where he was only beaten a neck on the AW at Chelmsford but this return to Plumpton will suit him and I expect him to run well with up to four places available.
14:00 Newcastle
There is no doubt that Kaboo sets the standard in this race on previous form but preference instead goes to the Bryan Smart trained INSTINCTION (best priced at 3-1) who comes here following a win over this course and distance last time. The daughter of Brazen Beau had shown some strong form on turf earlier this year but returned from a 130 break to win over this course and distance by six lengths last time.
Gianluca Sanna rode Instinction well that day when making all and the 7lb claimer retains the ride on the two-year-old in this race. She doesn’t receive as much weight from Kaboo as she would in a handicap but she looks the more solid option and I expect her to win despite a double penalty.
17:00 Newcastle
Maywake and Lead Story fought out the finish of a 0-85 course and distance handicap but both look vulnerable up in class off 5lb and 4lb higher marks in this race. Preference instead goes to the David O’Meara trained ORBAAN (best priced at 11-4) who drops into a 0-90 handicap for the first time in his career.
Orbaan has a poor strike rate of 3-24 but his latest victory came off a mark of 100 which shows how well handicapped he is becoming off a mark of 91. He is yet to win so far on the AW but he was only beaten 2 lengths off a mark of 102 over a mile here in June before finishing only four lengths behind Madame Tanzy in a listed race at Kempton last time. The main concern in this race is that he usually shows his best form in big field handicaps but there is no doubt that he is class horse in this race and he should win despite the small field.
