Anycity will be ahead of the rush-hour traffic at Southwell
– Anycity can make the most of his fresh start and get back to winning ways in the Novice Auction Stakes at Southwell today.
The two-year-old makes his Fibresand debut for a new stable after switching from Archie Watson to Michael Wigham.
There was much to like about the groundwork put in with his former trainer, for whom he signed off with an honourable second to a promising newcomer over 1600m at Chelmsford in the last of three Polytrack runs.
Anycity appears happiest going
London
from the front, no bad thing at Southwell. The gelding made all to win at his first attempt at Chelmsford in August, before dropping to 1400m and finishing second at Kempton.
Half-an-hour later, Saaheq is another back to his winning distance in the Betway Sprint Handicap.
The four-year-old, yet to race on this surface, won twice in a week over 1000m after joining Mick Appleby in September. He followed up those Doncaster and Sandown successes with a close third at Nottingham and looks progressive for a winter campaign.
At Chelmsford, Queen Of Burgundy can take care of a clutch of other likely lasses in the Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
William Haggas’ filly did not enjoy the early stages of her debut over 1200m at Kempton last month. But she finished with a flourish and can come into her own upped to 1600m.
Over jumps at Ludlow, Jillythejet may well make a winning rules debut in the opening Mares’ National Hunt Maiden Hurdle. Champion trainer Nicky Henderson often chooses to start some of his speedier recruits off at this sharp track. Southwell (UK) Thur Race 1 @ 14:10
Winning Irish point-to-pointer Jillythejet was quick enough to earn rave reviews for her victory in a two-finisher maiden at Ballyarthur in March, and duly moved on a month later for a tidy £100,000.
At the other end of the card, Third Estate has less lofty pretensions - but is still a likely winner of the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle.
Neil King’s gelding is up in the weights for a couple of recent wins but, given a month’s break, he looks primed for another big run. –