Rory Delargy

NEWMARKET SATURDAY

2.35 JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE STAKES GROUP 2(1M)

Nafaqa is clearly the one they have to beat after his victory over subsequent Mill Reef winner Toocoolforschool at Doncaster, but the latter’s margin of victory is undoubtedly flattering, and a literal reading of the form could see Barry Hills’s strapping son of Sir Percy go off artificially short. Should he attract the lion’s share of the public money, it will lead to the outsiders drifting, and I’d be very tempted to back Lord Ben Stack in such circumstances. Karl Burke’s colt has been massively underrated by the handicapper after routing his rivals in a Haydock maiden early this month (second and third both winners since), and would have been a steering job in any mile nursery, but his trainer is happy to bypass the handicap route, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he has the potential to develop into a classy three-year-old over middle distances. This is quite a big ask so early in his career, but he will be a juicy price, and I’m happy to bank on his nascent ability over those with more concrete form.

3.50 BETFRED CAMBRIDGESHIRE (9F)

The winner of a well-contested Leicester maiden last summer, Yeager took a leap forward to beat a dozen others in a valuable three-year-old handicap at Ascot on his next start. Shipped to the US to contest the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, he failed to cut much ice, and he probably wasn’t over that gruelling trip when below form on his final outing.

Making his return on Lingfield’s polytrack in the spring, the gelded son of Medaglia D’Oro shaped with considerable promise for the future when second to So Beloved despite being caught in a poor position when the winner made his move. That suggested that he’d be in for a fruitful summer, but like many of the trainer’s runners, he ran unaccountably badly when switched to turf at Ripon next time, and fared no better over an inadequate seven furlongs in the International Handicap at Ascot in July. Since then, the pendulum has swung again, and Noseda’s fortunes have picked up in the last few days, with three of his last four turf runners successful, including a double at Newmarket on Thursday. There is every reason to believe that the talented Yeager will also be revived, and a blank campaign means that he’s on a favourable mark bearing in mind his 2013 exploits.

There are plenty of others to consider in this hugely competitive affair, and Cornrow in particular is feared, but it’s hard to ignore the selection at odds of 33/1 and bigger, especially with a number of firms offering six places.

5.35 WANDERIN’ JOHN HANDICAP (7F)

Secretinthepark has been a nap selection a couple of times this season, and he went agonisingly close at Leicester on his latest outing, when finishing fast, but just too late to catch the thriving Take A Note at Leicester just over a fortnight ago. He is a winner at this track over six furlongs, but is clearly better suited by a stiffer test these days, as that latest effort showed. The handicapper hasn’t helped his cause by hiking him back up the weights, but he looks certain to give a solid account of himself, and it’s encouraging to see that Richard Hughes is keen to continue the association on Ed McMahon’s four-year-old.

RIPON SATURDAY

3.55 RIPON CATHEDRAL CITY OF THE DALES HANDICAP (6F)

On the subject of trainers emerging from the doldrums, Eric Alston deserves a mention after a virus-ravaged summer. Several of the trainer’s established handicappers lost their form completely. The last week has seen the green shoots of recovery, however, with Red Baron an excellent third at 50/1 in the Bronze Cup at Ayr, while Lord Franklin and Little Eli have registered recent wins to suggest all is belatedly back to normal. Barkston Ash started this season in fine style with wins over this course and distance and over the progressive Robot Boy at Thirsk. He’s since lost the plot, but that can be put down to the general malaise affecting the stable, and he’s quickly dropped back to a fair mark after several heavy defeats. Expect him to put that recent poor form behind him, and take the best morning price before the lemmings catch on.

MARKET RASEN

SATURDAY

2.15 888SPORT HANDICAP HURDLE Listed (2m1f)

Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland holds strong claims of landing at least one of the featured contests at Market Rasen, both of which carry listed status. He was successful in this corresponding contest last year with Ahyaknowyerself, and in Discay has another progressive performer who he is expected to place with alacrity. The selection can take a grip in his races, and hasn’t always been the most fluent, but was impressive in the way he powered clear of A Tail Of Intrigue at Worcester last month. My first reaction was to be disappointed in the runner-up, but he positively bolted up at Newton Abbot subsequently, and in all probability caught a tartar in the shape of the winner. The handicapper hasn’t gone overboard in raising Discay 8lb for that win, and there remains plenty of improvement to be eked out of him now he’s settling and jumping better.

2.50 888SPORT HANDICAP CHASE Listed (2m 6f 110 yrds)

He may have a very patchy profile, but like many afflicted by a tendency to break blood vessels, Mart Lane is probably best caught fresh these days, and he’s now only a couple of pounds higher than when a decisive winner at Doncaster last December. Formerly trained by Shark Hanlon, 2013/14 was his first season under the care of Dr Newland, and the Claines handler will have learnt plenty about him in that time. I’d imagine he would have had a slightly different campaign in light of his physical infirmity, but a lesson learned is a valuable thing, and he’s unlikely to line up undercooked for this listed contest.

RECOMMENDED:

LORD BEN STACK 2.35 Newmarket (1pt Win @ 8/1 Hills)

YEAGER 3.50 Newmarket (1pt E/W @ 33/1)

SECRETINTHEPARK 5.35 Newmarket (1pt Win)

BARKSTON ASH 3.55 Ripon (1pt Win)