Mia Mento out to prove her mettle

MIA MENTO can prove she has learned how to win again in the Stanton Prior Handicap at Bath.

She has shown plenty of promise in three starts since arriving at Peter ChappleHyam’s Newmarket yard, yet has found trouble in running too and not helped herself with two tardy starts.

That was the case again at Newmarket most recently when she was nonetheless beaten less than two lengths after finding her stride too late.

With that shared experience behind them, she and Andrea Atzeni ought to know more about each other - and there is no doubt Mia Mento is up to winning in this decent grade.

It is frustrating that she has failed to add to her debut Leopardstown victory in 10 subsequent starts, but she has plenty of encouraging form in the book in both Britain and Ireland.

Atzeni fits the bill as the right partner to get her into a prominent position, and if so she should take some stopping this time.

In the opening Eston Handicap, Spurofthemoment catches the eye.

Charlie Hills’ filly has been running consistently well and although unable to follow up under a penalty at Wolverhampton last time, she failed by only a nose when headed right on the post over a furlong further than this.

The return to the minimum trip looks a sensible move, and she could well be in business again.

Atzeni is among the riders who have finished second on Rideson - who has so far achieved that feat on six out of her seven racecourse appearances to date.

Roger Varian’s filly was third on her other attempt, and has been a beaten favourite six times.

A race record like that provides plenty of incentive to take her on again in the Karen Howell Maiden Stakes - and Sun Tide is the obvious alternative.

She too was second, on her only start to date, over this trip at Kempton last month - getting the message slowly there but running on well enough to suggest she should be winning soon for Ralph Beckett.

Ripon and Ayr hold evening cards, and there are interesting contenders at both tracks.

Sudona provided David O’Meara with his 1000th career winner at Pontefract last Tuesday, and she switches from West to North Yorkshire in search of a follow-up success under a penalty in the Ure Bank Fillies’ Handicap.

She was comfortably on top at the end of 10 furlongs last time, and a second success in the space of seven days is far from out of the question over a mile and a half here.

Earlier on the Ripon card, Herbert Pocket can bag the Sharow Handicap.

Tim Easterby’s gelding outran his odds despite rearing in the stalls in first-time cheekpieces at Thirsk last time.