Believe in Heretic
James Fanshawe’s five-year-old is distinctly useful on his day and may just have needed the run when finishing down the field in a Listed race at Newmarket the other day.
That was his first outing after a three-month break, the fast ground that has prevailed throughout the summer not being in his favour.
There will be some ease underfoot today though and he has form in the book which entitles him to go very close in a race of this nature if he is at his best.
He took a similar event in good style at Doncaster in July and was far from disgraced when fourth in the Group Two Brigadier Gerard at Sandown the time before.
Malvern Light should get off the mark at the second time of asking in division two of the Welcome To Nottingham Racecourse Maiden Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained daughter of Zeiten made an excellent racecourse bow when finishing a close fourth, beaten just a length, at Windsor last month.
She raced in mid-division after taking a keen hold early on that day and stayed on well in the final furlong. If she has made even moderate progression from that then she must be hard to beat.
Day Du Roy has been expensive to follow but he can come good in the betdirect.co.uk Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding did not find as much off the bridle as could have been expected last time at Bangor but he steps up to two and a half miles for the first time here and the way he travelled last time suggests he is worth one more try.
Celebration Town looked much improved when scooting up here last time and can repeat the trick in the Racing Welfare RHT Winter Series Handicap Hurdle.
