Jacob hat-trick would make it cool for cats

Extra weight not likely to hamper eight-year-old

JACOB CATS has hit a purple patch this month and can bring up a quickfire hat-trick in the Racing UK-sponsored Queen’s Prize Handicap at Kempton.

William Knight’s charge made his 2017 debut at this track on April 1 and wasted little time in getting a win on the board.

The eight-year-old gelding powered home by the best part of three lengths before defying a 6lb rise to double up just four days later.

He now takes his chance again 10 days on from that verdict and while he races off 93, the extra 2lb from last time may not be enough to shackle him. ALJAZZI has a couple of decent early-season entries and if she is to prove competitive in such events, she really should be putting up a good show in the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes at Kempton.

Her final outing of 2016 was disappointing, but she can be forgiven as it was relatively late in the campaign and she had perhaps gone past her best for the year.

Given Aljazzi already has black type to her name, it is interesting connections have chosen to persist with her when they could easily have

sent her to stud, so perhaps the hint should be taken.

SHANROE SANTOS has endured a bit of a bumpy ride during his career but he can bag the decent prize he deserves in the Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase at Haydock.

The Scudamores team up at Haydock in the Challenger Series Mares’ Chase with TWO SMOKIN BARRELS.

A winner on his last outing at Newcastle when he did not have to improve, he has strong claims here, although he has gone back up in trip. SELECTIONS: HAYDOCK: 2.05 Ballybolley, 2.40 Shanroe Santos, 3.15 Limited Reserve, 3.50 Poppy Kay, 4.20 City Supreme, 4.55 Two Smokin Barrels, 5.30 Global Dream. KEMPTON: 2.00 Plunger, 2.35 Southern Belle, 3.10 Fast Track, 3.45 Aljazzi, 4.15 Sibilance, 4.50 Omeros, 5.25 JACOB CATS (NAP). DOUBLE: Jacob Cats and Aljazzi.