FALLS SET TO POWER HOME
WENTWORTH FANCIED FOR SUCCESS AT THIRSK
Wentworth Falls is unlikely to be too far away when he is sent into battle at Thirsk.
Trained in nearby Thirkleby by the capable Geoff Harker, the five-yearold grey must shoulder top weight in a moderate-looking six-furlong handicap.
But he is not at the summit of the weights on a whim and has the form in the bank to suggest a big run is on its way.
The gelded son of Dansili enjoyed a grand start to the season when he won back-to-back races at Doncaster and Redcar.
He was then elevated in class for a strong handicap, in which he was sent off the 6-1 joint-favourite, at York in May.
Wentworth Falls struggled on the Knavesmire, not necessarily because he was not good enough, but perhaps more down to the fact the ground was very soft.
Indeed, he proved that the assessor might not yet have his measure at Doncaster two and a half weeks ago when he came home in fourth place in a good race won by Piper’s Note.
Harker’s grey was slowly into his stride on Town Moor and also raced along the far side, which was not favoured on the day.
Wentworth Falls is clearly still on the upgrade and appears to have been found a perfectly winnable opportunity for the prizemoney on offer.
As long as the ground does not deteriorate - unlikely, if the forecast is correct - he has a fine chance in the hands of Phillip Makin.
Original Choice should also go well in the Racing UK-sponsored handicap over a mile.
Doncaster maiden winner Commander is a worthy rival, but the vote goes to William Haggas’ chestnut, who is pretty streetwise for his tender years and only succumbed by a head in a fair race at Haydock last time.
Ryan Moore has a tasty book of rides at Kempton’s evening, with Blue On Blue possibly his most likely outlet for a winner.
John Gosden’s colt showed a nice bit of boot to win on his handicap debut at Yarmouth in April and is not badly treated on his belated return to the fray.
Royal Mezyan was narrowly beaten in a better race at Sandown last month and really ought to be kept on-side to go one place better in a five-anda-half-furlong handicap at Bath.
Zaman could be in line for a return to Ascot following his last-gasp success in the British Stallion Studs EBF Spindrifter Conditions Stakes at Pontefract.
Having made a winning start to his career at York in May, Charlie Appleby’s colt was stepped up in class for the Coventry Stakes at last month’s Royal meeting but finished down the field.
He was the 15-8 favourite to bounce back in West Yorkshire and fairly flew home in the hands of William Buick to get up and beat Unfortunately by a neck.
Appleby is considering Ascot’s Pat Eddery Stakes - formerly known as the Winkfield Stakes - as a possible next port of call.
“Things just didn’t pan out for him at Ascot. The race split and he was probably caught in the wrong group and detached himself, but I thought he made some nice late headway,” said the Newmarket handler.
“He came out of the race so well and the stiff six furlongs at Pontefract was attractive to us, so we decided we’d let him take his chance and he’s done what we hoped he’d do.
“Going forward, I think he’ll appreciate stepping up to seven furlongs.”