Fine Form
Al Shabab Storm cs – 4.05
can complete a Chester hat-trick in the Liverpool Airport Faster, Easier, Friendlier Queensferry Stakes.
After successive runner-up finishes on the Roodee and at Goodwood in May, Andrew Balding’s three-year-old opened his account for the campaign with a dominant handicap success here in June, making every yard of the running and readily accounting for a subsequent winner in Jungle Mac.
Following a 9lb hike in the weights, Al Shabab Storm tested the water at Listed level in the City Plate on his return to Chester three weeks ago and proved more than up to the task as he saw off Group Three-winning filly Breege without too much fuss.
With a drop in trip from seven to six furlongs not seen as a major issue, the Advertise gelding will take some pegging back in his bid for back-to-back Listed wins.
Never So Brave cs – 4.35
is another previous course winner with plenty going for him in the Barbara & Geoff Everall Memorial Handicap.
Sir Michael Stoute’s youngster was second in each of his two juvenile starts, chasing home a pair of subsequent Group One winners in Ancient Wisdom and Vandeek at Newmarket and Nottingham respectively.
It was no surprise therefore when he made it third time lucky on his three-year-old debut at Thirsk and he then proved way ahead of his opening mark of 94 when following up in a handicap at Chester in May.
He was not at all disgraced when stepped up to Group Three level for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten just four and a half lengths by the top-class winner Haatem, and there is still room for improvement ahead of his return to handicap company.
Donald McCain’s
Sea Grey cs – 5.05
is another looking to make it three wins on the spin at the track in the Ladies Day On 31st August Handicap.
The dual-purpose performer scored by a head here in June and he was perhaps value for more than the winning margin of half a length when defying a 2lb rise a couple of weeks later.
He is up another couple of pounds ahead of the hat-trick bid, but that rise is more than offset by the 7lb claim of jockey Charlie Maggs, who takes over in the saddle from Franny Norton.
Just up the road at Haydock,
Educating Rita hy – 4.45
is backed to continue her progress in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Nursery Handicap.
A promising second on her introduction at Redcar, the Michael Dods-trained filly went one better at Catterick next time before comfortably doubling up on her handicap bow at Hamilton.
She looked to have improved for the step up to this six-furlong trip in Scotland and while a 7lb rise looks steep, it is certainly not insurmountable.
Angel Hunter hy – 4.45
just about sets the standard in the Cure Leukaemia Restricted Maiden Stakes.
Richard Hannon’s Acclamation colt outran his odds when third behind hot favourite and previous winner Anno Domini on his debut at Sandown. The form of his second run when fourth at Ascot is not too shabby, either, with the winner Tiger Mask running with credit in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the week and the runner-up Parole d’Oro since going one better at Epsom.
This six-furlong contest is no foregone conclusion with some promising types on show, but Angel Hunter should be involved at the business end of proceedings.
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