Trainer Michael Bell, who hit a high note at his local Newmarket course yesterday when winning the July Stakes with Nevisian Lad, can clinch the feature race on Knavesmire tomorrow.
Bell saddles my Nap selection Topkamp in the £50,000 Cuisine De France Summer Stakes. I fancy that Micky Fenton's mount will be difficult to beat.
Winner of two of her last three races, Topkamp looked a little unlucky at Warwick last time. Stepped-up to seven furlongs, and ridden from off the pace, she got into top gear a fraction too late and failed by a short-head and a head to catch Tora Bora and Littleton Arwen.
Back to her best distance of six furlongs tomorrow, Topkamp looks capable of showing her rivals a clean pair of heels.
Talbot Avenue, a winner at York last season, can get back on top in the opening race, the Mr Kipling Exceedingly Good Handicap over five furlongs.
Lightly-raced this term, Talbot Avenue gave notice of a return to form at Sandown last week when finishing a close-up third to My American Beauty.
His tendency to race too freely in his races seemed to count against him there, but with a scorching pace virtually guaranteed tomorrow, and with Jamie Spencer in the saddle, there is every chance that Talbot Avenue can chalk-up his first win of the year.
Top Dirham has already hit a rich vein of form, having won his last two starts, and Mick Easterby's rejuvenated gelding has every chance of completing a hat-trick in the Hearthstead Homes Handicap.
A well-supported winner at Thirsk last month, Top Dirham has since clinched the Carlisle Bell, overcoming trouble in running to get his head in front in the dying strides. It would be no surprise to see him oblige again tomorrow.
Lanarkshire trainer Ian Semple has his horses in cracking from at present and Cherished Number could be another winner for this shrewd handler in the Danepak Classic Rated Handicap.
A model of consistency this summer, Cherished Number underlined his well-being when getting home in a triple photo-finish at Ayr last time. Off bottom-weight here, he looks sure to make a bold bid in the hands of useful apprentice Derek McGaffin.
Hambleden, something of a regular at York, has yet to chalk-up a win on Knavesmire, despite having run well on numerous occasions.
Michael Jarvis's gelding gets another opportunity to break his duck in the John West Tuna Rated Handicap. Philip Robinson, his usual rider, again has the mount.
At Ascot, Ringmoor Dawn is fancied to make a determined bid to carry off the Rendevous Casino Rated Handicap.
The four-year-old has shown himself to be in great heart this summer and comes here after a recent impressive win at Newbury. A 3lb penalty may not be enough to anchor him.
Hawk Flyer, a Doncaster winner last time, can follow-up in the Woodcote Stud Classified Stakes and initiate a double for Sir Michael Stoute and Kieren Fallon, who can also score with Kirk Wynd in the Silverwood Park Nurseries Fillies Handicap.
Tomorrow's tips:
York
2.00 Talbot Avenue, 2.35 Top Dirham, 3.05 Topkamp (Nap), 3.40 Hambleden, 4.15 Cherished Number, 4.50 Rule Of Law.
Ascot
2.15 Tusk, 2.45 Hawk Flyer, 3.15 Ringmoor Dawn, 3.50 Northside Lodge, 4.25 Dontstopthemusic, 5.00 Kirk Wynd
Tomorrow's other race meetings are at Chepstow, Chester, Hamilton and Wolverhampton.
Updated: 13:33 Thursday, July 10, 2003
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