Liam Firkin

MISS NIGHTFALL (7/2) has been consistent having either won or placed on all but one of her starts under rules. She is only up 3lbs for recent efforts and I think she is still well handicapped and has some very nice form in the book from last season having finished ahead of plenty of nice horses, albeit in receipt of weight on most of those occasions but for me, these form lines are still not to be sniffed at. She finished in second place and ahead of a horse She’s Perfect who has gone on to run very well in group company. Miss Nightfall finished one length ahead of her on that final run of last season and was only getting 3lbs on that day. Prior to that she mixed it again in class two company at Doncaster finishing a neck behind Camille Pissarro, now rated much higher in the handicaps and Miss Nightfall also finished ahead of horses rated 96, 97 and 90. There’s plenty to like about her in this field, especially off her marl and providing Miss Nightfall has come out of that last race where she wandered around on the run in then she is once again, in with a good shout.

WATCHING THE CLOCK (9/2) was a horse that went into my tracker on his debut at Tipperary and the notes made were as follows “One to keep an eye on in handicap company. Never put into the race on his first or second start and one who will improve for JP’s money and perhaps a step up in trip. He gets the latter in this race but has been pushed out by half a point, at the time of writing. That wouldn’t concern me too much and there could well be a sea on money before the off. He is first time up in handicap company which is my only reservation as to why they may have another day in mind but I’m willing to play at the 9/2 as sadly, my info line into Fran Berry…..doesn’t exist. WATCHING THE CLOCK - 0.75 Pts EW @ 9/2

KENDALL ROY (16/1) was a horse on my radar but with no jockey booking at the time of picking my Ante-Post Angle selections meant I was tentative about putting him up. That said, his price hasn’t contracted all that much and I think that given his recent efforts he can certainly run a race in this company. He is back on his last winning mark and as mentioned, returned to form when 3rd on his most recent effort. If he can build on that run then I don’t see any reason as to why he can run much better than his odds suggest. KENDALL ROY - 0.75 Pts EW @ 16/1 (5 Places)

SOUL SEEKER (30/1) is one who needs to show form that we’ve seen prior to moving yards but should he be able to replicate the back form that saw him win at Sandown in September of last year then he could be on a handy mark here. Currently handicapped off 62 and that last winning mark was off a rating that was 6lbs higher and given that he drops two class divisions in this, I’m willing to give him a chance at a course where he’s had two third place finishes in the past. He could be one who’s under the radar in this low class affair.

ALYARA (40/1) has been seen sparingly over the course of the summer with only one run since June but that recent appearance may have helped to bring her forward for her next start today. A bit of a swing at a big price but she does bring in some prior good form having won off a mark higher than her current basement rating of 45 and has a claimer in the saddle today. She is a winner over this course and distance and will go on the ground conditions should she have the ability to return to form. The blinkers are applied for the first time as a bit of a Hail Mary and I’ve decided to join connections in praying that she can show form previously shown. BOG advised as a drift is plausible given that she SP’s @ 100/1 last time out.

ARCTIC DAWN (9/2) had been in good form prior to his last start where he was slow to get away and that ultimately ruined any chance he had.

I think there is a lot more to come from him in handicap company and with blinkers applied for the first time, that could just spark the improvement needed.

Connections have been in fine form with the ownership enjoying a couple of winners from recent runs and the training outfit are operating at a 24% strike rate which is made up of five winners. A strong each way play for me.

PURPLE GOWN (14/1) was a winner off 1lb lower last June at Hamilton and that came off the back of a break which showed she has no issue coming into a race fresh. She also ran a very commendable 2nd place in 2023 after nearly 5 months off the course which backs up the fact that she can come into competitive racing and put a good performance, first time out. Shes not been seen since January when turning up at Catterick over hurdles and again was not disgraced when running into 5th of 12. Given her record fresh and the fact that she’s in and around a winning mark, I am happy to take an each way chance on her in this class 6 contest which is a drop from her last win which came last summer.