James Street to prove right back on track

James Street can make a winning handicap debut at Lingfield on Wednesday.

Hugo Palmer switches his attentions after a string of fine efforts in novice and conditions company to date, with his only really disappointing outing coming when pitched into Group Three company in the Acomb at York last summer.

James Street was sent off a 16-1 shot on the Knavesmire, despite having won two of his first three starts, but something looked to be amiss that day because he was beaten a long way from home and subsequently underwent a breathing operation.

That seemed to have done the trick on his return last month, because he successfully conceded upwards of a stone all round when landing a novice event at Kempton, but he could not quite follow up in conditions company on his most recent start.

There was little shame in going down by a short head in a fast track qualifier, and his initial mark of 88 in the Ladbrokes Handicap could well give him a bit more to work with.

Highland Acclaim has been knocking on the door in his last couple of outings but can finally hit the mark in the Sun Racing No1 Racing Site Handicap.

He did not appear to have the best draw on his most recent start, but he made a bold bid from a prominent position and just fell a neck short at the line - conceding weight to the winner.

Highland Acclaim has yet to win on the all-weather, but remains on a handy mark and should soon hit the target.

At the other end of the scale, Soar Above ended 2018 with three wins on the bounce - and he can pick up where he left off in Kempton’s 32Red Casino Handicap.

John Butler paid just 7,000 guineas for the gelding at the end of 2017 after he failed to make the track as juvenile - and given he was an initial 125,000 guineas purchase for Qatar Racing, he looked a pretty good buy.

He failed to sparkle in his first few starts but finally came good at Kempton in September before following up back at the Sunbury track in November.

Soar Above then switched yards to Paul d’Arcy and wasted no time in striking for his new handler, once again triumphing in style at Kempton in December.

He has gone up 5lb for that success, but seems to have plenty in reserve.

Roman Spinner has finished out of the places just once in her last six starts, so a decent run for your money looks assured in the 32Red Handicap.

She appeared to just run out of petrol over a mile last time, so perhaps switching back to seven furlongs could have the desired effect.

Sun Hat can get back on the right track in the 100% Profit Boost At 32Redsport.com Handicap.

Simon Crisford’s runner was far too keen last time from an unfavourable draw, with a reported stumble in the initial strides hardly helping her cause, while the Kempton vet found her to be sore after the race.

All of those factors combined suggest it is best to draw a line through that run -and given she had won her two previous starts, it would not be a huge surprise to see her bounce right back.