GYTO Saturday Notebook Double

It’s hard to knock the form UNDER FOX showed towards the end of last season and if he has improved from 3 to 4 I think he might be capable of making a winning return at Thirsk on Saturday. He has taken his form up a notch since the blinkers went on and he ran out an impressive winner at Hamilton where he was going away at the line having looked briefly outpaced at one point. He likely improved again when bumping into Empirestateofmind at Pontefract on final start and that horse has franked that form winning convincingly at Ripon earlier this month. He is only 2lb higher here and looks to have plenty going for him. Lordman is the biggest danger for Hugo Palmer. He remains lightly raced and will strip fitter from that two-length defeat on reappearance at Wolverhampton. Carnival Zain is also respected but he probably needs some rain.

Churchill colt STATE LEGEND has gone from strength to strength in recent starts and he powered clear to win by 5 lengths to make it 3 from his last 4 at Doncaster last time. I thought that was impressive and while he has gone up 8lb talented claimer Benoit De La Sayete has been booked for the ride so he largely negates the rise. If he handles the drop back in trip he is very much the one to beat as I don’t think we’ve seen the best he has to offer just yet. I’d like to see him have a target to aim at so hopefully Swilcan Bridge goes a good gallop. He may well emerge as the danger and it could just be a case of the selection trying to run him down late. Le Forban clocked a career best winning at Lingfield last time and if he handles the step up in trip he might not be too far away either. Flintstone will come good but might just need a bit more time.