Montassib can still be the star at Wetherby

Montassib can start making up for lost time when lining up in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Novice Stakes at Wetherby on Sunday.

The four-year-old won on an all-weather novice race over six furlongs on his debut at Newcastle in September 2020, but was absent last summer and has subsequently been gelded.

Though he has not run for 598 days, the Exceed And Excel gelding is in the care of William Haggas, whose string has been in excellent earlyseason form.

The race is a modest one and while there are a couple of newcomers, the rest have yet to show the same level of form, so Tom Marquand’s mount, if fit, looks the one to beat despite a penalty.

Prince Of Abington piques interest in the Sixt Car & Van Hire Handicap.

The four-year-old has had just one win to his name on turf in nine attempts and that came over 18 months ago in a six-furlong novice race at Ascot.

Though suffering a luckless campaign last season, he racked up a string of placed efforts and showed enough on his return from a five month break at Kempton to think he will go well again, especially now he has been dropped a couple of pounds.

King Of Tonga had a busy campaign last summer despite not getting his head in front. A change of scenery appears to have done him some good, as he struck at the first time of asking for Declan Carroll, taking a five-furlong handicap at Pontefract two weeks ago on his first run since November.

Though up 2lb for that, the six-year-old may well follow up in the second division of the 7th June Is Ladies Evening Handicap over an additional half-furlong, with the stable in good heart at present.

Bath’s seven-race card sees Little Hustle making his return after a pleasing introduction at Kempton in February.

The Andrew Baldingtrained three-year-old was third to Nahanni, who promptly won the Blue Riband Derby Trial at Epsom on Tuesday and the runnerup, Mhajim, subsequently franked that form at Lingfield.

The son of Fastnet Rock stayed on well enough after being outpaced early on to suggest there is improvement to come in the Cazoo Restricted Maiden Stakes.

Macs Dilemma has been beaten favourite on his last two runs, but should be able to gain compensation in the second division of the Cazoo Handicap.

John O’Shea’s four-yearold was touched off at Windsor over six furlongs last time when not getting a clear run at an important stage and he is expected to be ridden more positively over the minimum trip.