Expect Anycity to hit the front – and stay there

RACING: Wigham’s recruit can shrug off top weight on Fibresand debut

ANYCITY can make the most of his fresh start and get back to winning ways in the Ladbrokes Bet £5 Get £20 Novice Auction Stakes at Southwell.

The two-year-old makes his Fibresand debut for a new stable after switching from Archie Watson to Michael Wigham.

There was much to like about the groundwork put in with his former trainer, for whom he signed off with an honourable second to a promising newcomer over a mile at Chelmsford in the last of three Polytrack runs.

Anycity appears happiest going from the front – no bad thing at Southwell.

The gelding made all to win at his first attempt at Chelmsford in August, before dropping to seven furlongs and finishing second at Kempton.

He and new partner PJ McDonald will surely be up with the pace again, and have every prospect of seeing it out despite conceding weight to all but one.

Half-an-hour later, SAAHEQ is another back to his winning distance in the Betway Sprint Handicap.

The four-year-old, yet to race on this surface, won twice in a week over five furlongs after joining Mick Appleby in September.

He followed up those Doncaster and Sandown successes with a close third in a valuable series final handicap at Nottingham over a furlong further.

This is another highly-competitive event, but Saaheq still looks progressive for a winter campaign.

Over jumps at Ludlow, JILLYTHEJET may well make a winning rules debut in the opening Buy Your IJF Xmas Gifts Today Mares’ “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.

Champion trainer Nicky Henderson often chooses to start some of his speedier recruits off at this sharp track.

He did so with future Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi 11 years ago and many others before and since.

Winning Irish point-to-point Jillythejet is in a slightly different mould. But the four-year-old was quick enough to earn rave reviews for her victory in a two-finisher maiden at Ballyarthur in March, and duly moved on a month later for £100,000. SELECTIONS: LUDLOW: 1.20 Jillythejet, 1.50 Keep Moving, 2.25 Shannon Hill, 2.55 Muckel Roe, 3.30 Elysees, 4.00 Third Estate.

SOUTHWELL: 12.10 Stanley, 12.40 Assimile, 1.10 ANYCITY (NAP), 1.40 Saaheq, 2.15 Essenza, 2.45 Kynance, 3.20 Given Choice, 3.50 Salazar. DOUBLE: Anycity and Jillythejet.