Raydiance to sparkle at Southwell

Back fiveyear-old to fulfil his early promise

RAYDIANCE

should appreciate both the drop back to seven furlongs and a return to Southwell in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap.

A Listed winner as a juvenile, Raydiance was then off the track for more than a year and he has failed to recapture that kind of form subsequently.

The five-year-old has not totally been out of luck, with two wins since that July 2017 victory – and one of those successes coming over the same seven furlongs he faces here.

Raydiance enjoyed the Fibresand surface, galloping on with conviction to claim a three-quarter-length verdict and earn a 2lb jump in the weights.

Karl Burke then sent him to Newcastle seven days later – but racing over a mile he beat just one horse home, looking as though the trip had proved beyond him.

Given a break since then, Raydiance should be refreshed. STAR ASCENDING has proven ability at Southwell, so merits a place on the short-list in the Betway Handicap. The eight-year-old has not hit the target since last May, but he has been dropping down the ratings and now sits on a perch 4lb below his latest winning mark on the all-weather.

His recent third at Southwell suggested he still has the ability - and he can go well for Jennie Candlish.

AGENT OF FORTUNE is on the verge of securing a slice of all-weather history in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.

The five-year-old has been on quite the roll this winter, notching up seven wins since making her first start for Gary Moore back in December.

She went in pursuit of a record eighth win at Lingfield on Saturday, racing off a mark of 81 after kicking off her winning spree from a perch of 50.

Agent Of Fortune just fell short,

although she was only beaten a length and quarter. PUNCTUATION hit the bar on his first attempt but can build on that in the 32Red Casino Maiden Stakes. BULLINGTON BOY is the choice in the second division of the 32Red.com Handicap.

FIRST ACCOUNT can make it a quick double at Musselburgh in the Meetings That Matter On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.

He struck at the first time of asking for Keith Dalgleish, having previously been trained by Donald McCain, and he looks a horse on the up.

Having his second start over fences, he turned in a decent round of jumping and can follow up just over a week later.