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Mostahdaf hard to oppose at his favourite track

3 minute read

Mostahdaf can continue his progression with victory in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

ADDEYBB. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

The Frankel colt has already won three times at the Esher venue, landing the Heron Stakes and the Fortune Stakes last season and the Gordon Richards Stakes over the course and distance last month.

In seven career starts he has tasted defeat just once and that was in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was badly hampered and never really recovered.

The step up to a mile and a quarter looked to be right up his street on his reappearance and given that was his first competitive start in six months, there is surely improvement to come fitness-wise.

The four-year-old is the second highest-rated horse in the field behind the popular Addeybb, who is a top-class performer on the day, but has been off the track since the autumn and has suffered a life-threatening illness during the intervening period.

While Addeybb is now in the twilight of his career as an eight-year-old, Mostahdaf is a horse on the up and his younger legs can carry him to another success.

Thunderous will not be winning out of turn if he can secure top honours in the Coral Henry II Stakes.

With Trueshan not declared due to unsuitable ground, Thunderous sets the standard on recent form following successive runner-up finishes at Chester and York.

At Chester the five-year-old pushed Hamish all the way in the Ormonde Stakes and in the Yorkshire Cup a fortnight ago, he stuck to his guns admirably to give the remarkable Stradivarius a run for his money.

The way Thunderous refused to go away on his first start over a mile and three-quarters suggests this step up to two miles should not be an issue and he should prove hard to peg back in a first-time visor.

Irish raider Crispy Cat brings excellent form to the table in the Coral National Stakes.

Trainer Michael O’Callaghan made his name due to his proficiency with juveniles and this Ardad colt looked another smart one when making a winning debut at the Curragh.

He returned to Ireland's Headquarters for a Listed race the following month and was beaten just a short head by Blackbeard, who followed up in some style in Group Three company at the weekend.

On the strength of that form, Crispy Cat must have an excellent chance of getting back on the winning trail in Esher.

The Clive Cox-trained Lethal Nymph puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Betfred Good Luck To Huddersfield Giants Handicap at Haydock.

A son of Cox's former stable star Lethal Force, the three-year-old impressed on his Wolverhampton debut in early April and doubled his tally at Doncaster three weeks later.

He displayed class and courage to get the better of odds-on favourite Rizg on Town Moor, a horse who has since been beaten less than two lengths in Listed company.

A step up to Stakes company is likely to beckon for Lethal Nymph if he can complete his hat-trick on his handicap debut.

Heights Of Abraham looks the one to be on in the Ripon Cathedral Handicap in North Yorkshire.

The four-year-old already has a Ripon win on his CV and returns following successive placed efforts north of the border at Hamilton.

He was last seen going down by just half a length and he ought to go close once more despite a 2lb rise in the weights.

Meydan Rose can make a successful return in the QuinnBet Handicap at Yarmouth.

The Chepstow maiden winner is 1lb lower than when third on her handicap debut at Leicester in the autumn and the booking of William Buick suggests connections mean business.

Carlisle punters should put their faith in Detective in the Wiggonby Handicap.

The £6,000 Juddmonte cast-off has won five times since joining Dianne Sayer, with four of those wins registered in Cumbria.

A 5lb penalty for his latest success here last week is unlikely to be enough to stop him adding to his tally over this longer trip.

SELECTIONS:

CARLISLE: 4.40 Riverside Girl, 5.15 Indian Dream, 5.50 Promotion, 6.25 Full Circle, 7.00 Discretion, 7.35 Detective, 8.10 Iolani.

HAYDOCK: 1.10 Cathayensis, 1.40 Chichen Itza, 2.10 Maxi King, 2.40 Lethal Nymph, 3.10 Miss Nay Never, 3.40 Zanbaq, 4.15 Autumn Festival.

LIMERICK: 4.50 Future Proof, 5.25 Walk On The Moone, 6.00 Dicey Rylee, 6.35 Dazzling Dove, 7.10 Itwasfate, 7.45 The Abbey, 8.20 Dunleer Phoenix.

RIPON: 1.20 Lady Bullet, 1.50 Smart Connection, 2.20 Shake A Leg, 2.50 Heights Of Abraham, 3.20 Proclivity, 3.50 Kiteflyer, 4.25 Birkenhead.

SANDOWN: 5.40 The Whipmaster, 6.15 Crispy Cat, 6.50 Thunderous, 7.25 MOSTAHDAF (NAP), 8.00 Farasi Lane, 8.35 Destiny Queen.

YARMOUTH: 1.00 Meydan Rose, 1.30 Naval Power, 2.00 Berkshire Breeze, 2.30 Thermometer, 3.00 Flower Of Thunder, 3.30 Enough Already, 4.05 Anglo Saxson.

DOUBLE: Mostahdaf and Crispy Cat.