KIEREN Fallon, fresh from winning Saturday's £200,000 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on the brilliant Russian Rhythm, can light up the less salubrious surroundings of Catterick tomorrow.
The champion jockey journeys north principally to ride Nahane for Sir Michael Stoute in the 'Redcar' Maiden Stakes.
Although not in the same league as stablemate Russian Rhythm, Nahane is progressing along the right lines to pay his way and there was much to like about his latest effort at Ayr, where he finished second to the potentially high-class Carte Sauvage.
Although no match for the winner that day, Nahane looks likely to improve further and he is fancied to go one better tomorrow.
Fallon seldom rides for the Alan Berry stable, which makes his booking for Joyce's Choice look significant in the Eat, Sleep At The Nag's Head, Pickhill Handicap.
The Berry horses are running well at present and Joyce's Choice finished second to Zarzu on this course a fortnight ago when meeting the winner on a stone worse terms than in a handicap. She should go well.
Paul Hanagan can do little wrong at present and the Ryedale jockey, who won a big handicap at Chester yesterday on Sun Bird to go with an even bigger one he won at Goodwood last Friday on Lady Bear, has good prospects of steering Blackthorn to victory in the 'Wetherby Steeplechases" Claiming Stakes.
Richard Fahey's gelding is no great shakes, but he was a winner in similar company two outings ago and there is every chance he can make a big impression here. He is awarded the nap vote.
In the catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap, Patricia Philomena, a recent winner, can continue Thirsk trainer David Barn's splendid run by defying a penalty.
At Bath, Cerulean Rose can bloom once more in the Sky Bet Fillies' Handicap over five furlongs.
A slow-maturing performer, Cerulean Rose has certainly come good now, having completed a hat-trick of wins at Goodwood last week. A 6lb penalty hardly looks enough to prevent Tony Carroll's four-year-old from obliging again.
The speedy Proud Native will surely take plenty of catching in the Skybet.com Claiming Stakes, while Docklands Babygirl, after two creditable efforts in defeat is fancied to make it third time lucky in the Sky Bet Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes.
Tomorrow's tips:
Catterick
2-30 Nahane, 3-00 Amundsen, 3-30 Joyce's Choice, 4-00 Blackthorn (NAP), 4-30 Patricia Philomena, 5-00 Mr Bountiful
Bath
2-15 Proud Native, 2-45 Skiff, 3-15 Tiber Tiger, 3-45 Miss Brookie, 4-15 Docklands Babygirl, 4-45 Cerulean Rose
There are no other race meetings tomorrow.
Tom O'Ryan's Nap for today's racing is: Bo McGinty (7-45 Carlisle)
Updated: 11:50 Monday, August 04, 2003
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