GO FAR can make a successful return to the all-weather as he lines up in the Download The New Unibet Racing App Handicap at Lingfield.
Alan Bailey’s charge has enjoyed a fruitful 2015, with solid placed efforts in competitive events at Goodwood and York augmented by victory in the Bronze Cup at Ayr in September.
He has proved capable enough at the winter game in the past, counting four wins on artificial surfaces amongst his 14 career successes, but his third place in the Stewards’ Sprint at Goodwood showed he can more than hold his own in big-field events.
Go Far underlined that point when landing a 20-1 shock at Ayr and he again showed his ability for a cavalry charge when finishing a three-length second to Shared Equity in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York in October.
Racing off a 7lb higher mark, he could not find the required extra gear in the finish but that run shows he remains competitive and he should be nicely refreshed for a winter campaign following a few weeks’ break.
Mindurownbusiness can bring up a hat-trick in the Coral Conditions Stakes following comfortable successes at Lingfield and Chelmsford recently.
Roger Varian’s charge was one of the leading lights in last season’s All-Weather Championships, winning twice including the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton, but he failed to make the frame on Finals Day in April.
Given the summer to recover from his exertions, the four-year-old impressed with a length-and-a-half victory on his return before following up by just short of two lengths when defying a 5lb hike.
Mindurownbusiness appears to have at least Listed potential and this looks a logical stepping-stone to higher profile targets in due course.
Burning Thread has only had limited experience of the all-weather during his career so far but should not be discounted in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.
Rated as highly as 102 in his pomp, Burning Thread is now off a mark of 79 following a handful of successes, most recently when scoring at Bath in October.
He was raised 4lb for that win but could not quite follow up as he had to settle for fourth when switched to the all-weather on his most recent start.
The eight-year-old was keeping on all the way to the line that day and his turn can come here.
Cyrien Star is the pick in Catterick’s Book Now For 28th December Handicap Chase following his recent Stratford victory.
Having only his third chase start that day, Henry Daly’s charge was slightly fortunate in that likely winner What A Good Night fell at the last but Cyrien Star still deserves credit for rallying to edge a neck verdict.
The margin of victory limited his rise in the weights and Cyrien Star should again have learned a fair bit for the run.
Tara Mist can make it a double for Daly in the Alfa Aggregates Products Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow.
Listed placed on multiple occasions in bumper company, Tara Mist proved smart enough over hurdles, winning twice last season as well as going close in a competitive mares’ event at Newbury last March.
She was well beaten on her seasonal return but should improve for the run and can make her presence felt.
King Massini is three times a winner at Ludlow and can make it four victories in the Boyne Cup.
He has slid down the ratings a bit so even despite a rise for winning last time, he remains on a handy mark.