Crotchet tuned up for a win
CROTCHET has enjoyed a fine campaign in 2018 and she can add further lustre to her record with victory in the Ar Legal Fillies’ Handicap at Newmarket.
Richard Fahey has placed Crotchet to win twice already this term, with her most recent success coming in a competitive fillies’ heat at Musselburgh last month.
Stepping up to a mile for the first time, Crotchet overcame a troubled passage to win by a length and quarter, looking decent value for the margin too.
She sticks at a mile here - and while she is off a 4lb higher mark, she will have the able assistance of Ryan Moore this time.
As a daughter of Lethal Force out of the well-related Humouresque, Crotchet is already a valuable asset for her owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud - and every victory just adds a little more to her page.
Staying will be the name of the game for the juveniles in the British Stallion Studs EBF Nursery Handicap, and Prefontaine makes plenty of appeal because he is already proven over the 10-furlong trip.
He bumped into a couple of smart sorts in Sangarius and Kadar on his first couple of starts, while Cap Francais was a touch too good over a mile for him.
However, switching up to 10 furlongs in a nursery at Nottingham earlier this month clearly suited him as he came home a ready length-andthree-quarters winner under a very confident Andrea Atzeni.
A 7lb rise obviously makes this a tougher test, but Prefontaine was hardly all out in victory that day and should continue to progress.
Matterhorn showed plenty of promise on his belated racecourse bow at Pontefract at the start of the month, and the switch to Polytrack should suit in the Bet toteswinger At totesport.com Maiden Stakes at Chelmsford.
Beaten two lengths into third by a couple of more experienced rivals, he looked as though a sounder surface would be more to his liking, so the move to an artificial track makes sense.
This well-related individual seemingly has plenty going for him at present.
Papa Delta appears to have found his level now and can make it two wins on the spin in the first division of the Bet totetrifecta At totesport. com Handicap.
He showed a good turn of foot to win here at the beginning of October, and a 5lb rise may not be enough to shackle this lightly-raced type.
Duneflower is likely to be short odds for the Ladbrokes First For Racing EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Newcastle - but judged on her racecourse bow, she will be hard to beat.
Beaten a length and a half by a very well-regarded filly at Newmarket, Duneflower was just tapped for toe at the finish - and would certainly not need to improve too much to be winning here.
Baden is the pick in the Richard Davis Memorial Chase at Worcester as he comes back from his summer break.
His jumping was far from impressive on his most recent start at Ludlow in May, but his class saw him through and can do so again.