October 2016

In the 3.50 at Nottingham on Wednesday, Royal Rebel has already had a fine season, but his most recent effort at Pontefract nine days ago suggested his current handicap mark is hardly prohibitive and he can resume winning ways. He failed by three-quarters of a length to overhaul Blair House over a mile at the West Yorkshire track and, stepped back up to an extended mile and a quarter, off the same handicap mark, must have bright prospects of making amends.

In the 4.55 at Nottingham, recent winning form is something of a rarity, but Aprovado returned to something approaching his best on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle last month and still looks feasibly weighted, despite a 3lb rise in the weights. The Approve gelding had previously been in decent form over 6 furlongs on turf and is 3-5 under Connor Beasley, including twice on the prevailing good going.

Selections: Nottingham 3.50 Royal Rebel, Nottingham 4.55 Aprovado, 1-point Win Double

In the 2.35 at York on Saturday, Great Order is 5lb higher in the weights than when failing by a short head to overhaul Huntlaw, over a mile, at Newmarket last time, but the step back up to a mile and a quarter appears to be in his favour and he can make an impact, even in this higher grade. The Distorted Humour colt remains unexposed over middle distances.

In the 3.45 at York, Hoof It is only 1lb higher in the weights than when third in the Ayr Gold Cup three weeks ago and can gain consolation. The Monsieur Bond gelding was well backed when beating Related and 26 other rivals in the Sprint Stakes at Goodwood on his penultimate start and proved that effort was no fluke with another solid effort at Ayr. He’s won a couple of times over course and distance and is well drawn, in stall 20, to give it another good go.

In the 4.10 at Newmarket, Nakeeta is winless in five starts this season but, frankly, has done very little wrong and deserves a change of luck. She has no stamina doubts, appears to act on any ground and looks reasonably handicapped, so could represent a shade of value at rewarding odds.

Selections: York 2.35 Great Order, York 3.45 Hoof It, Newmarket 4.10 Nakeeta (3 x 1-point Win Singles, 3 x 1-point Win Doubles, 1 x 1-point Win Treble)