The Citizen (Gauteng)

Kirkland Forever can defy hefty weight in the Nelly Jolly at Brighton

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– Kirkland Forever is an obvious choice to pull off a quick Brighton hat-trick in the Happy Birthday Nelly Jolly Handicap today.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s fouryear-old has gone up almost 6.5kg in the ratings for her two wins so far over the past month.

She had a decisive seven lengths in hand over yardstick Queen Adelaide here last week, and before that counted the re-opposing Rocksette among her victims.

Kirkland Forever is back in trip by 400m but is still weighted to come out on top, has winning partner Charles Bishop back on

London

board and should get her ground again at her favourite venue.

Earlier in the card, two novice events have thrown up backable contenders.

Amy Murphy is a young trainer making her mark across the codes and she has found the Novice Median Auction Stakes for Wolf Prince.

There are one or two other likely types in this, but nothing that shouts from the page to frighten the selection.

The Pour Moi gelding has had a seven-week break since his promising debut, on which he finished a two-length runner-up to odds-on favourite Never Do Nothing at Thirsk.

The latter, with a run under his belt then, has gone in again at the same level since.

Wolf Prince outran his odds of 10-1 at this same distance of 1600m, and there is no reason to expect anything other than the necessary improvemen­t to win at his second attempt.

Half an hour later, Punjab Mail can deliver in the starsports.bet/ebf Novice Stakes.

A colt with all the right connection­s, Punjab Mail improved dramatical­ly on his second start when a 1.50-length runner-up at Kempton last week.

Back on the turf, he may well have the measure of this small field.

At Chelmsford, Gentle Look is an obvious starting point in the opening Nursery Handicap.

This Godolphin-owned Dubawi colt has shown enough in three starts to strongly suggest he can outdo his peers here.

He receives 4.5kg from Wolverhamp­ton winner Critical Data and may have more to fear from Murray River - who has a similar profile.

An hour later, Scat King has experience on his side in the Novice Stakes.

Richard Hughes’ colt still appeared to have a bit to learn in defeat when he was a decent third at Wolverhamp­ton last month, and he can prove the point at his third attempt.

Two Weeks is back on the Tapeta in Wolverhamp­ton’s Telford Handicap for the first time since her course victory 11 months ago.

Competitiv­e in two handicaps at Ffos Las and Nottingham over the summer, Clive Cox’s threeyear-old filly returns here over 200m further after another break - and should find conditions to her liking. –

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