GYTO Thursday Notebook Double

I have been really impressed with DOUGLAS TALKING the last twice and the hat-trick may well be on the cards here despite him going up in the weights and this looking tougher. He galloped them into submission at Ayr back in February and then jumped with aplomb to win unchallenged at Sandown. A 10lb rise looks fully warranted on that performance and I think he can improve again. He is still off a nice weight carrying 11 stone and will likely have plenty of supporters once more. Dan Skelton horses in handicaps are always worth noting so Third Time Lucki could run well but is burdened with top-weight. He ran well to finish fourth in the Grand Annual behind Maskada and from a 1lb lower mark should get competitive. Pay The Piper might be a greater threat though as he has been at the top of his game the last twice.

I thought there was lots to like about the way MOUNTAIN QUEEN opened her account in a maiden at Wolverhampton back in November last year and despite getting beat on handicap debut she showed plenty. She only went down a neck at the line and the filly that beat her Sid’s Annie had been on the upgrade heading into that race. I know she has been beaten heavily since but she was slowly into stride and struggled in a better grade. The selection has more to offer moving bak up in trip and looks to have found the right race to go one better. Miss Harmony is a good looker who won at Lingfield last time but she didn’t need to improve to win that and she is 1lb out the weights here. That might leave Wynter Wildes as a greater danger as this is a much easier race than what she was facing when last seen.