Byron backed to seal hat-trick

TIPS: Williams’ gelding can continue his successful run despite hike in weights

BYRON FLYER has struck a rich vein of form recently to strongly suggest he can complete a hat-trick in the Squirrel Handicap at Leicester.

The Ian Williams-trained gelding had put in a host of placed efforts since scoring at Lingfield in February 2017, but a drop in trip and more positive riding tactics have brought a change of fortune.

Having raced mainly over a mile and three-quarters and two miles on the Flat, the switch to a mile and a half saw Byron Flyer strike at Doncaster and Newmarket last month.

The seven-year-old has gone up for 4lb for his last triumph but he won with such authority that he should prove hard to beat.

ENCORE D’OR has the class to shrug off top-weight in the Racing UK Autumn Sprint Handicap.

Trained by sprint specialist Robert Cowell, the six-year-old ran his stablemate Global Applause close in the Listed Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster last month, and went a couple of places better a week later in a handicap at Yarmouth. This looks another good opportunity.

Daniel Kubler sends the in-form

CHITRA to Catterick in a bid to make it three wins from her last four starts.

The juvenile filly won a 19-runner event at Redcar on her latest start, which has seen her go up 6lb, but that might not stop her following up in the All New racinguk.com Nursery Handicap.

SELECTIONS

CATTERICK: 1.30 Liquid Lunch, 2.00 Chitra, 2.35 Kuwait Station, 3.10 Falcon’s Fire, 3.40 Super Florence, 4.10 Spirit Of Wedza, 4.45 Be Perfect, 5.15 Sienna Says.

LEICESTER: 2.15 Coolongolook, 2.50 Canadian George, 3.20 Encore d’Or, 3.50 BYRON FLYER (NAP), 4.25 Eternal Frame, 4.55 The Right Choice, 5.30 Dreamboat Annie, 6.00 Plucky Dip.

DOUBLE: Byron Flyer and Chitra