Clever Cookie has promise of star quality

Niven’s mud lover looking like worthwhile prospect at Nottingham

Hopes are high that CLEVER COOKIE can develop into a genuine star of the staying scene this year, and he takes the first steps towards that in the totepool EBF Stallions Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham.

Peter Niven’s mud-lover had a good 2014 and made even greater strides in the last campaign when very much looked on as an underdog for some of the long-staying prizes.

He struck first time out with a game display in the Group Three Ormonde Stakes at Chester in May, before winning the Listed Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup for the second successive year at York at the end of the month.

Fast ground forced Niven to scrap plans to run the eight-year-old in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but the going was considered suitable enough for him to take on the cream of middle-distance horses in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes there in July. He was a respectable fifth over an inadequate mile and a half.

It was two miles for his last run of the year, in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup back at Ascot in October, when he was only beaten a length by Flying Officer.

Granted soft ground Clever Cookie should take top order when stamina is at a premium, and this contest looks a good starting point.

LONGSHADOW has performed with credit in better company so he should be up to defying joint-top weight in the 2016 Catterick Twelve Furlong Series Handicap at the North Yorkshire track.

SELECTIONS:

CATTERICK: 2.00 Sadie Babes, 2.30 Longshadow, 3.00 Mighty Zip, 3.30 Rocco’s Delight, 4.05 Hartside, 4.35 Mrs Biggs, 5.05 Bahango.

NOTTINGHAM: 2.20 Finelcity, 2.50 A Momentofmadness, 3.20 Silvanus, 3.50 CLEVER COOKIE (NAP), 4.25 Hillbilly Boy, 4.55 Pickapocket, 5.25 Gawdawpalin.

DOUBLE: Clever Cookie and Longshadow.