After being highly tried in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes on his latest outing, Prme Defender appears to have been found a much more suitable task at Wolverhampton in the HBLB Dunstall Park Conditions Stakes.
Barry Hills’ charge displayed plenty of ability prior to his effort at Headquarters and should prove too good for the seven rivals he faces on his all-weather debut.
An impressive winner over five furlongs at Sandown on only his second outing, he then improved again to claim a good third in the valuable St Leger Yearling Stakes over six furlongs at York in August.
He would have arguably scooped the gold medal that day had he not been hampered on the inside rail a furlong out as he was catching Doctor Brown and Cockney Rebel with every stride.
That form was boosted by the first two going close in Group Two company next time out.
The fourth that day, Dhantaya, has since landed a Group Three and filled the runner-up berth in the Cheveley Park Stakes.
He has displayed versatility by going well on fast ground and in testing conditions so is expected to handle the Polytrack, while the return to six furlongs should also be to his liking.
The stable boast a very encouraging strike-rate at the Midlands venue and the son of Bertolini can enhance that record.
Kempton hosts the other Flat action of the day and there is plenty to like about Adeje Park in the Digibet Sports Betting Handicap.
Having shown good ability as a juvenile, the Night Shift filly looked set for a productive season when landing a valuable handicap at Warwick over the same trip in good style in May.
But she failed to make an impression when upped to Group Two and Listed class on her next two starts.
Peter Chapple-Hyam’s inmate looked to be on her way back, however, when a one-length fourth on her first Polytrack start over a mile at Lingfield last month.
She has escaped punishment from the handicapper for that encouraging performance and returns in the same grade.
Moreover, she looks sure to relish the drop back in trip having only relinquished pole position in the final 100 yards last time out.
Briery Fox caught the eye when landing a two-mile-four-furlong chase on his seasonal reappearance last month and has a good chance to follow up in the Anne Duchess of Westminster Memorial Handicap Chase over an extended three miles at Bangor.
The Henry Daly-trained gelding will strip fitter for that outing and looked crying out for a step back up in trip as he was doing his best work at the finish.
To that end, a 7lb rise in the handicap may not be enough to halt him.
Lingfield completes the day’s action and the best bet of the card could be the unbeaten Jonjo O’Neill charge Bajan Sunshine.
The five-year-old completed a double in bumpers this summer before wasting no time in opening his hurdle account last month.
The EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle over and extended two miles, three furlongs does not appear much tougher.