NAUTICAL TWILIGHT, beaten in a photo-finish at Sedgefeld last month, returns to the County Durham track today to seek compensation for her Norton trainer Malcolm Jefferson.

The four-year-old went down by only a head to Golden Jubilee on her most recent start and had also occupied the runner-up position in her previous outing at Hexham.

Nautical Twilight has yet to get off the mark in eight races over timber, but is more than capable of making her presence felt and the Niramax Group Ltd Handicap Hurdle looks a good opportunity for her to break her duck - and make up for her narrow course defeat last time. Brian Hughes has the mount.

Tony Coyle, one of Jefferson’s neighbours, also has a winning chance with Silver Dragon in the N.E.S Services Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase.

A winner over hurdles at Wetherby three weeks ago, Silver Dragon followed up that effort with a dour staying display at Hexham over fences when he went down by only a length to Snuker after being under pressure and staring defeat in the face throughout the final mile.

A thorough stayer, he tackles a leg-buckling three miles and three furlongs this afternoon and is fancied to get back on the winning trail.

Dougie Costello, rider of Silver Dragon, can also score on Ballydague Lady in the She Exports Ltd Handicap Chase.

Trained by Neil Mulholland, the seven-year-old will be a popular choice among punters after winning by no less than 17 lengths at Fontwell last week in a conditional jockeys’ race which means she escapes a penalty in today’s event.

This race may well come plenty soon enough for her, but Mulholland’s hand is forced to run her again swiftly before she is re-handicapped. His enterprise should be rewarded.

Costello also teams up with John Quinn in the opening Wynyard Park Novices’ Hurdle in which the pair will be represented by Zermatt.

Although he was pulled up on his seasonal re-appearance at Hexham last month, Zermatt had previously won a bumper at Stratford and shown promise on his hurdling debut at Wetherby. It is far too soon to be putting a line through his name on the back of one below-par display. He can not be backed with confidence today, but he should certainly be treated with respect.

David Pipe and Tom Scudamore, who were in good form at Newbury’s three-day Hennessy meeting last week, will be represented by Mount Haven in the Gondola Run Maiden Hurdle.

This is a race that may not take a lot of winning and Mount Haven has shown enough in a couple of hurdles starts and when winning a bumper at Fontwell that he has what it takes to clinch this modest prize. He is awarded the nap vote.

Wolverhampton’s Flat meeting starts with the Coral ‘Hands And Heels’ Apprentice Series Handicap in which Elysian Prince bids for a hat-trick of wins.

Trained by Paul Cole, the three-year-old has won claimers both here and in France on his last two starts. He promises to take all the beating in this low-grade affair with Gary Mahon, previously attached to the Tim Easterby yard and now with Richard Hannon, taking the mount.

The 32Red Handicap looks a tightly-knit race, but Sioux Chieftain makes plenty of appeal.

Trained by Michael Appleby, who is a dab hand at training all-weather winners, Sioux Chieftain was a beaten favourite here last time when finishing second to Street Artist.

Today’s extra two furlongs may work the oracle for the four-year-old to go one better under York-based jockey Robert Winston.

Also worth noting at Wolverhampton are the consistent Red Perdita (2.40) and Rightway (4.40), who is overdue a winning turn after a series of near-misses. Luke Morris has the task of guiding him home in front.

 

Selections

Sedgefield today
12.30 Zermatt, 1.00 Mount Haven (NAP), 1.30 Ballydague Lady, 2.00 Nautical Twilight, 2.30 Silver Dragon, 3.00 Zero Visibility, 3.30 Plum Tree.

Wolverhampton today
2.10 Elysian Prince, 2.40 Red Perdita, 3.10 Bleu Astral, 3.40 Sioux Chieftain, 4.10 Quaintrelle, 4.40 Rightway, 5.10 Focail Mear.

Today’s other meeting
Southwell.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Catterick, Kempton, Lingfield, Ludlow and Plumpton.