16:10 - A race containing five horses that are yet to record a win from a total of 49 starts is not the ideal way to begin a placepot, so two selections are required to ensure we don't completely fall on our faces. Encore un Fois didn't look the easiest of rides at Windsor last month, but takes a drop in class on debut for trainer George Baker having been bought for 15,000gns from Luca Cumani and could well be capable of conceding weight to his rivals. Roman Flame had a number of placed efforts to her name on the all-weather last winter and has strong claims if ignoring her last run.
16:40 - Hold-up performer Rocket Rob is well treated having not had things fall his way of late, and has the bonus of being drawn in stall one for his first try in blinkers. Dancing Freddy won at Pontefract in September, and has held his form well since, his latest effort at Southwell being an all-weather career-best. If repeating a similar level of form, he should be hard to keep out of the places.
17:10 - Yungaburra is not the most consistent of performers, but his best effort this season came when scoring at Wolverhampton on his latest start. He is still well treated under a penalty and is the most likely winner if in the same frame of mind. Lucky Royale showed the first signs of ability in a Wolverhampton maiden last month on her first start for Jeremy Gask and, as she's entitled to come on for that reappearance, she could progress now sent handicapping.
17:40 - Dr Livingstone should appreciate the drop into this grade, having struggled since his win in a Ffos Las handicap in August. He is arguably the most likely winner, but adding Balajo as a second selection will provide a small amount of comfort in a race that could turn tactical. He had some fairly useful form to his name when trained in France, but was never dangerous in a decent handicap at Ascot on debut for this yard. Again, this represents a drop in class, and the pair should ensure we progress beyond halfway.
18:10 - What would appear to be a reasonably open maiden can quite easily be narrowed down to two, with Galician and Saaboog representing a very real chance of doubling up. The former finished second to the impressive Starboard on debut at Redcar, despite showing signs of greenness, and just normal improvement puts her in with a strong chance. Saaboog shaped with promise when a not-knocked-about seventh at Newmarket on debut at the back-end of October and is another that is likely to progress.
18:40 - Auntie Kathryn, quite simply, looks the one to beat in the final leg after putting in a much improved display when second to a well-handicapped winner over course and distance last week. That effort was with the visor tried for the first time and, with that equipment being deployed once more, she should be up to making the places. The race does have the air of one that could throw up a strange result, however, so the Richard Hannon-trained Authora is also included. She did shape as if amiss on nursery debut at Leicester last time, but it is interesting that powerful connections have persevered with her.
Selections
16:10 - 1, 4
16:40 - 1, 2
17:10 - 1, 10
17:40 - 1, 4
18:10 - 9, 13
18:40 - 1, 8
= 64 lines
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