GYTO Thursday Notebook Double

Some in-form fillies lining up for this but all in all I think it’s a great opportunity for Sir Michael Stoute’s CHICHEN ITZA to get off the mark. She showed promise amidst greenness on debut when fourth at Leicester last year and built on that to go down less than a length into third at Newcastle. She was put away after that and returned with a third at Haydock back in May. She was sent off odds-on for that so it was a bit disappointing to see her finish four lengths back but she looked to need it and I think better can be expected now tackling handicap company. She has been given a mark of 77 and that appears to be lenient. The Gosden filly that finished in front of her last time Mimikyu has since won by six lengths at Newmarket off a mark of 86 so the selection could have a fair bit to play with. The danger is likely Danza Della Luna following her win at Pontefract but she is up 8lb and probably coming up against an improver.

Great chance for George Boughey to make his mark on the Racing League on Thursday with X J RASCAL. This colt was slowly away at Glorious Goodwood last month and then came through with his effort too soon only to be picked off late. That experience won’t have been lost on him and hopefully if he gets away on terms racing off the same mark he is going to take a lot of beating under Kieran Shoemark. He clearly has plenty of potential and looks ahead of his mark as long as he can race more efficiently. Kiss N Cuddle made it 3 wins from his last 4 starts at Chester 4 days ago but his aggressive style might not work out too well here and I’m yet to be convinced about him off the bridle. A greater threat might come from Machito who has a hood on now having bumped into an improver in Urban Sprawl at Catterick last time. Twilight Tryst also deserves a mention but this is much tougher than Nottingham.