Watkins (second choice) may have turned a corner and has good claims of reversing last week's Lingfield placings with She Went Whoosh, but they may have to play second fiddle to ROYAL ACCORD (nap), who's in good nick and will be fine back on turf. The unexposed Up The Anti is also interesting on her seasonal return.[Richard Russell]
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Made the breakthrough at the 11th attempt when she capitalised on a falling mark to score on AW at Lingfield (5f) a week ago, beating Watkins by half a length; needs to do more to confirm those placings under a 6lb penalty, but Alec Voikhansky takes off a useful 3lb and she acts on good to firm.
From a family of milers and all starts so far at 1m (debut) and 7f; made a low-key stable/handicap debut when last of ten at Kempton (7f; weakened quickly) 15 days ago and he's now tried in cheekpieces (a sibling won both his races wearing them) on this first go sprinting.
Off the mark at the ninth attempt when coming from off the pace to win a 6f handicap at Lingfield (also raced wide) this month and backed that up nine days later with a solid second off 5lb higher at Wolverhampton over 5f (again AW), despite fluffing the start; same mark here and he also ran well on this forecast good to firm ground at Bath three starts back; could be the answer.
Beaten about 6l in 6f/1m maidens on either side of a tough task in a York sales race and she made a respectable handicap debut when fourth at Leicester (6f, heavy) in October; cheekpieces enlisted on this reappearance and first crack at 5f, while this unexposed filly's yard has been among the winners lately, including with seasonal newcomers.
Best form when fourth of ten at Windsor over 5f (good) last April and he made a pleasing start for second new yard when a well-backed third over 6f last month (nearest finish); his supporters hadn't returned when he weakened quickly over 7f (also AW; 25-1) three weeks ago but he's not totally ruled out on this drop in trip and return to turf.
Just glimmers of ability before struggling when 40-1 for handicap debut (5f AW) last year and beaten a similar margin when fourth at Bath (5.5f, good to firm; Royal Accord second) on return this month; work to do but the handicapper's already relenting.
All handicap starts on AW but seven of his eight winning siblings scored on turf; best form when second to She Went Whoosh at Lingfield (5f; refitted hood, retained) a week ago, having been ridden patiently; yet to win but better off with that rival now and those hold-up tactics could be the key to him.
Looked limited on a variety of surfaces and the first-time cheekpieces made no appreciable difference in the race won by Royal Accord at Lingfield (6f, AW; 200-1) 20 days ago.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
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