Zap to leave rivals in a spin

- Zap is fancied to obliterate his rivals today in the British Stallion Studs EBF Spindrifter Conditions Stakes at Pontefract.

The Richard Fahey-trained youngster made a nice impression when winning on his debut at York in May, after which the possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot was mentioned.

That was put on the back-burner after defeat in the Woodcote at Epsom on Derby Day, where he was third to De Bruyne Horse and Cardsharp.

While the bubble was perhaps temporarily burst, connections will since have taken lots of encouragement from the fact De Bruyne Horse has run respectably in Group races since and Cardsharp found only Sioux Nation too good in the Norfolk.

That all makes the Woodcote look a pretty strong piece of form, and hopefully Zap can take this on the way to another tilt at something better, although it is a trappy-looking contest, even with just four runners, as all have claims of some sort.

Don Valentino can continue his progression in the 15th Wilfred Underwood Memorial Classified Stakes.

Trained by David O’Meara, the three-year-old was unraced at two but is making up for lost time, running with promise on his first three outings before getting off the mark at Ripon last month.

He goes handicapping for the first time and is expected to continue on an upward curve in this sort of company.

The Feathered Nest can get back to winning ways in the ebfstallions.com Fillies’ Handicap.

Her seasonal return at Doncaster was a good one in a fair race and she went very close next time out at Ripon, before being a little bit disappointing when third at York as favourite.

However, the winner there Eartha Kitt is no mug and Fahey’s runner should appreciate the demands of Pontefract, as she probably will get further than 1200m at some stage.

Interestingly, she has in fact been favourite on all but one of her six starts, so clearly shows something at home.

Richard Hughes has his string in great nick and Debonaire David looks like adding to the stable’s gains in the FCL Global Forwarding - Making Logistics Personal Handicap at Wolverhampton.

The three-year-old won with a bit of authority at Lingfield and a 1.5kg rise might not be enough to stop him.

Intrepidly shapes as the best bet on the evening card at Windsor, where he goes in the Strategic Proposals 30th Anniversary Handicap.

Jeremy Noseda’s charge went into winter quarters on the back of a win at Kempton and while he had to settle for fourth on his return this season, he should come on for that and it is too soon to give up on him.

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