Sam King is back with three selections on Friday.
The opening Mallard Handicap on day two of Doncaster's St Leger meeting is often a competitive affair, but I'm hopeful that Shadow Dance can it into something of a procession for the in-form Roger Varian team.
A striking grey four-year-old, Shadow Dance's form figures this season might look uninspiring, but he's actually shaped nicely on both occasions, keeping on nicely over an inadequate trip on his reappearance at Goodwood before finishing a close-up eleventh in the Ebor when forced to make his challenge away from the action.]
It's likely the ground up at York last month would have been plenty quick enough for this son of Almanzor, who has been seen to the best effect when operating with cut in the surface.
He was a good third in this contest last season and with the ground to suit, Roger Varian's charge must have every chance off a 1lb lower mark.
1pt Win – Shadow Dance
Odds – 4/1
Northern Champion recorded a useful RPR when making a striking winning debut in a valuable sales race at Deauville last month and it's interesting he's pitched straight into this afternoon's Flying Scotsman Stakes.
Ed Walker, who also saddles the talented, yet frustrating maiden Do Or Do Not, has been amongst the winners in recent months and he looks to have a well-above average recruit on his hands here.
A €820,000 breeze-up purchase, Northern Champion might not prove money well spent just yet, but it was tough not to be impressed with the way he travelled at Deauville before quickening up in the closing stages.
The runner-up, River Card has since landed an Ascot maiden to give the form some substance and whilst there is no doubt that this will require another step forward, it wouldn't be at all surprising if he proved up to the task under the in-form Kieren Shoemark, who might well have had the choice between the Walker duo.
1pt Win – Northern Champion
Odds – 10/1
The twelve-furlong fillies' handicap at 3.40 looks like it could be a contest worth following for future reference.
It's obvious why Cape Flora is towards the top of the market following her commanding success at York, but she's up 9lb for that effort and might struggle to contain the Ralph Becett-trained Perfect Your Craft, who represents a handler that has landed the last two running's of this contest with similar three-year-old's.
A winner of a heavy-ground novice event last season, Ralph Beckett's filly was upped to Listed level for her seasonal reappearance at Goodwood and while she only managed to beat one home, she shaped much better than the bare result, keeping on after being outpaced before finding trouble a furlong out.
It wasn't at all surprising to see her get back to winning ways on her handicap debut at this venue in July and the form looks solid, with the third-place horse going on to score twice subsequently in handicap company.
Stepping up to a mile and a half ought to bring about some further progress and off a mark of 87, which is the same rating that Ralph Beckett's Meribella won this off twelve months ago, she's taken to continue her upward trajectory.
2pt Win – Perfect Your Craft
Odds – 15/8
