Ostilio to shine brightest under Newcastle floodlights

– Ostilio looks one of the more interesting horses in action today on a workaday card beneath the Newcastle floodlights.

It might be a little off-putting to see Simon Crisford's youngster already running in a first-time hood, but he is clearly a colt with plenty of boot.

Ostilio, who is closely related to Group 1 winner Ajman Princess, will obviously need to find plenty to justify his Derby entry, but there was not much wrong with his debut performance at Leicester last month.

This son of New Approach pulled very hard for Andrea Atzeni, but eventually grew in stature and ended up finishing a 0.5 length second to Accessor in what was a strong 1400m maiden.

And with the fourth horse that day, the 6-4 favourite George Villiers, having since won a race, the form should continue to pay its way.

Illusional looks a worthy rival from the Mark Johnston operation, but Ostilio must surely take the beating in the 32Red.com Novice Stakes.

Rare Groove was a further length away from Accessor at Leicester and later gets the opportunity to stick to his end of the bargain in a 1600m novice auction stakes.

Jedd O'Keeffe's two-year-old made an honourable fist of things from the front but he lacked the zip of the first two home so now steps up to 1600m.

There are races to be won with him this winter.

Lady Buttons has what it takes to win a significant prize on her chasing debut at Bangor.

Trainer Phil Kirby simply adores this seven-year-old mare, and it is easy to understand why.

She claimed a hat-trick in handicaps last season, but is capable of winning a Listed race against her own sex.

Indeed, Lady Buttons very nearly did so on Charlie Hall Day at Wetherby when she looked all over odds-on favourite La Bague Au Roi in the olbg.com Mares' Hurdle.

But as try as she might, Kirby's inmate was eventually worn down by an inspired Richard Johnson, who got the jolly up by two lengths.

That was still a terrific effort, though, and served notice she is in a seriously happy place this autumn.

Kirby has always considered Lady Buttons to possess and scope for fences so it will be fascinating to see how she fares in the Listed mares' novice chase.

PRESS ASSOCIATION SELECTIONS: Nap bet: Ostilio 4.15 at Newcastle and with Lady Buttons 1.10 at Bangor, in All-ToCome bets. - Press Association