Henry Hall, who began his season with a 20-1 win at Thirsk, and who was again on the mark at Epsom on his latest start, heads to Newmarket tomorrow with excellent prospects of adding to his tally.
The Nigel Tinkler-trained sprinter goes for the £17,000 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Handicap and, over his best distance of five furlongs, looks sure to make a bold bid.
Tough and consistent, Henry Hall confirmed his well-being on his latest outing when the sharp Epsom course lent itself to his talents.
He has a tough test tomorrow, against the likes of the consistent Bali Royal and Andrew Balding's Speed Cop, who dead-heated for a sizeable first prize at Ascot last Saturday, but Henry Hall, with regular rider Kim Tinkler on board, looks sure to go well.
Contraband is worth looking out for in the Federation of Bloodstock Agents Rated Handicap.
William Haggas's five-year-old made his belated seasonal debut in the Tote-Ebor Handicap at York in August and ran a mighty race to finish fifth after pulling too hard in the early stages.
Tomorrow's two furlongs shorter trip is expected to suit Contraband even better and, with the Haggas horses in such fine form, he has excellent prospects.
The £100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes boasts a jackpot prize for two-year-olds bought as yearlings at last year's local sales, and La Vie Est Belle is napped to go well for Rod Millman.
Tough, consistent and speedy, La Vie Est Belle chased home the useful Paradise Isle at Nottingham last time, having previously finished a creditable third to Ticker Tape in a hot nursery at Doncaster. Lightly-weighted tomorrow, she is expected to be involved in the finish.
Frizzante should be hard to beat in the Christo Philipson Boadicea Fillies' Handicap,.
Slightly unlucky in last month's Ayr Gold Cup, in which she started favourite, Frizzante was drawn on the 'wrong' side of the course in Scotland and was also handicapped by a tardy start.
Compensation came her way, however, on this course recently when she won easily, leaving the impression there was plenty more to come.
The NGK Spark Plugs Nursery over a mile offers State Dilemma a good opportunity to register his second success of the autumn.
Barry Hills' colt opened his account in grand style at Newbury last month, beating Putra Sas, who franked the form when going one better at York last week.
State Dilemma looks a progressive sort and I select him to follow-up on his handicap debut.
Thursday's tips:
Newmarket
1.40 Great Fox, 2.15 Contraband, 2.50 Beneventa, 3.25 La Vie Est Belle (Nap), 4.00 Frizzante, 4.35 State Dilemma, 5.10 Henry Hall.
Southwell
1.20 Contagious, 1.55 Vilamoura, 2.25 Mister Mal, 3.00 Hov, 3.35 Teyaar, 4.10 Countrywide Flyer, 4.45 Just One Smile.
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Towcester.
Updated: 12:23 Wednesday, October 15, 2003
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