The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Ifton, (1610 Musselburgh), 1pt win, 11/4:
An interesting contest with Ruth Carr’s Ifton looking the star turn. He toiled away at 7f finally showing promise running into 3rd at Epsom. That hinted at a step up in trip and a fast finishing 2nd at Yarmouth over 8f next time suggested the extra furlong was not quite enough. Gets 9f today and that might just be ideal.
Diamonique, (1440 Musselburgh), 9/2: has finished 2nd or 3rd in last six handicaps this summer so looks pretty fairly handicapped, but given her two career wins came at this track last year, if she is to break out of bridesmaid status it is surely here. Looks reasonably well drawn, and with leading rivals having doubts, Lathom (weight), Holmswood (stable form), Royal Brave (stall 2), she may have less to beat that initially meets the eye.
Spirit of Zebedee, (1655 Catterick), 7/2: a veteran and a Catterick regular having won here off marks of 59, 57 and 50. There are signs of decline there and as a basement level performer he can’t be trusted every time, but he ran well here last time, gets suitably better ground, has been very lucky with the draw and races off just 47.
Naadirr, (1725 Catterick), 7/2: another poor grade sprint gives us a chance to back Naadirr who must be reaching an eponymous point in his career having reached heights of 111 in his heyday. He is in obvious decline, but this mark of 73 is 2lbs lower than when showing a return to form last week at Bath. He may not have had the run of the race then, and is clearly also a bit of an awkward mule, but the weights are just too good to ignore at this price.
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