Prince can repeat trick

Varian’s lightly-raced charge still looks pick of bunch despite rise in weight

DAIRA PRINCE can strike Nottingham gold for the second time this month in the Watch Racing UK On BT TV Handicap.

Roger Varian’s charge won at Yarmouth and Leicester last season and also ran creditably in defeat on a couple of occasions.

He failed to fire on his final appearance of 2017 in the Silver Cambridge-shire at Newmarket, however, and was subsequently gelded.

The lightly-raced four-year-old was fitted with blinkers on his return from an eight-month absence over this course and distance three weeks ago and appeared an improved performer as he saw off the in-form Lamloom with something to spare.

The handicapper has had his say, raising Daira Prince 6lb, but, with only eight runs under his belt, he is very much unexposed and he looks sure to go well in this £22,000 feature.

AUTUMN LEAVES is an interesting contender for the British Stallion Studs EBF totequadpot Fillies’ Handicap.

The daughter of Helmet filled the runner-up spot on her first two juvenile starts last season before making it third time lucky when justifying odds-on favouritism at Salisbury in August.

The runner-up and the fourth home from her maiden victory have both won since to give the form some credence and Autumn Leaves makes her handicap debut and long-awaited return off what appears a very workable mark of 78.

ELERFAAN ran a screamer to finish second when a 66-1 shot for his Wetherby debut last month and can go one better at Beverley.

The well-bred son of Shamardal was bought for just £5,000 by his current connections last November, having never run during a spell with Varian.

Now with Rebecca Bastiman, he made his belated introduction in West Yorkshire and shaped with huge promise to fill the runner-up spot.