Transcend can rise again
When John Gosden and Ryan Moore team up punters should take note – which should be the case with Transcend in the sportingindex.com/racing Handicap at Brighton on Thursday.
Gosden has always rated the three-year-old highly but it is fair to say he has not lived up to early expectations.
His last run can be forgotten as he was drawn on the wrong side at Salisbury and before that he was second in a competitive handicap at Newmarket.
It is interesting Gosden has chosen a race just shy of six furlongs and he must have seen something to suggest it will suit.
Moore can bring up a double on Michael Stoute’s City Stable in the EBF John Hunter – Follow Your Instinct Maiden Stakes.
This Derby entry was arguably given too much to do on his last start as the winner Rochefort was allowed first run.
City Stable stayed on well, though, and this step up to very nearly a mile will play to his strengths.
Stoute will be keen to get a win into him for next year and he should go well.
It is difficult to know what Stevie Thunder achieved winning a seller on his debut but it is worth sticking with him in the Book Online At wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Claiming Stakes at Dunstall Park.
Trainer Alan Swinbank was keen to snap up Neil Callan, usually a tip in itself, and the opposition does not look very strong.
The handicapper has taken no chances but it will be interesting to see if he can continue his progress.
Jamie Osborne can provide Jamie Spencer with another winner in his battle for the championship in the shape of The Riddler.
Second twice already, the Daylami colt will not be winning out of turn in the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Racecourse Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Not many National Hunt trainers are happy with the dry spell of late but Nicky Richards will be hoping it persists for his useful prospect Glingerbank.
Lightly raced, the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Novices’ Chase at Carlisle looks ideal for the seven-year-old.
Unlike most of Richards’ string, this one was sent straight over hurdles and showed he was not short of ability by finishing second in quite a valuable handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on only his fourth start.
Like so many at Greystoke, he was only biding his time over the smaller obstacles and chasing will surely see the Supreme Leader gelding in a better light.
It could take a smart one to stop him.
Richards can make it a double with Rayshan in the Azure Support Services Handicap Chase.
It is quite possible Rose Davidson’s mount did not stay three miles last time and the return to two and a half miles should work out well as he had previously shown some useful form.
Tom George’s Armoury House turned in a pleasing performance when scoring at Fontwell last month and should follow up at Ludlow.
While that half-length verdict was an improvement on anything he had previously produced, Tom George’s six-year-old is clearly on the upgrade.
