/ Editor / 05 June 2007 /

There have been definite signs in recent days that the Godolphin horses are beginning to find their form and Hinterland could well add further weight to the argument if landing Nottingham's feature mile conditions event (16:10).

The Dubaians won this race last year with Librettist and also took the 2003 renewal with Dubai Destination so clearly like to use this as a stepping stone for their intermediate milers, and whilst Hinterland has failed to cut much ice since scoring at Sandown last year and has struggled to make the grade in group company, he could well be good enough here in a race where each of his five rivals has questions to answer.

Hinterland did well for Michael Jarvis last year and has had only one run for his present connections, but with Frankie Dettori on board and the yard finding its form he could prove to be a popular selection and best value may be found in early trading.

Shumookh could be a danger to all having proved to be a progressive handicapper last term before failing in soft ground on his final start. This better surface should be more to his liking and trainer Michael Jarvis should know exactly where he stands with Hinterland. The yard is known for putting the money down when they fancy their chances so any market support would be highly significant.

Jo'Burg finished down the field in the 2000 Guineas and then showed more than his fair share of temperament when well beaten at Sandown last week. He has it to do taking on the older horses and looks one to oppose in both the win and place markets.

The William Haggas-trained Charlie Cool put up a series of good efforts at Nad Al Sheba during the winter but thus far has failed to recapture his form back on turf. In what could develop into a tactical affair he may well be found wanting for pace, having shown his best form over ten furlongs, and is another to consider opposing both pre-race and in play.

Kew Green seems to have gone off the boil after a disappointing attempt to make it over hurdles last winter, whilst Chicken Soup has plenty to find on the book and looks out of his depth.
Charmer looks attractive in Ripon highlight

It is quite possible that most eyes will be on Godolphin's unexposed Desert Chief in Ripon's feature event, the Directors Cup (20:20), but he may well have to give best to Mark Johnston's eye-catching Black Charmer who looked to be on the way back with a good seasonal reappearance effort at York last month.

A highly regarded juvenile when only just failing to beat Sir Percy in Goodwood's Champagne Stakes in 2005, Black Charmer clearly suffered a setback the following season when re-appearing only in late summer and had lost his way, only beating one horse home in four outings.

The handicapper duly relented and has dropped him from a mark of 110 to 93, but three weeks ago at York the gelded son of Black Minnalouche showed he was on the way back when a fine fifth to Blythe Knight in a competitive affair. Sure to have come on for the outing, Mark Johnston's charge could hold the aces here and looks worth supporting in both the win and place markets.

Desert Chief is a difficult horse to train having run just six times in four seasons but has plenty of ability. He ran well in Dubai in February, but there is a suspicion that he won't get things his own way in this event on an undulating course that may not suit him ideally, and he looks worth taking on in the win market, although he may well reach the frame.

Bustan was beaten only half a length in this event last year at massive odds and has to be respected after some solid performances so far this season. The handicapper has cut him little slack though and the chances are that he will probably find at least one too good for him once again.

Vicious Warrior has won here in the past but is far from consistent and is unlikely to get the uncontested lead he enjoys so could be worth opposing in the place market and also in play, where he should be prominent for much of the way.

The dark horse in the race could prove to be Robustian, whose handler Eve Johnson-Houghton has her team in fine form. He will appreciate the drop back to a mile after tiring over ten furlongs recently and still looks on a decent mark, so an interest in both the win and place markets could prove profitable.

Bold Marc scraped home at Haydock last time, but this is much tougher and he has it all to do to follow up. Layers may well be keen to take him on, particularly in the win market.
Apostle worth following

Many punters will readily dismiss the chance of King's Apostle in Ripon's Sky Television Handicap (19:50) after the son of King's Best finished last of 14 (beaten 41 lengths) on his most recent outing, but the William Haggas-trained colt is definitely worth a second glance.

That outing at Thirsk can be struck from the record as he failed to handle the sharp bottom bend and was eased when beaten, and now dropped in trip and returned to a straight track, King's Apostle can show himself in a very different light. Prior to the Thirsk disappointment he had proved admirably consistent and the drop to sprinting should be the making of him as he has plenty of early pace.

With the duck egg next to his name his chance may be overlooked by some and shrewder backers may step in early and gain value that may not necessarily be available later on in the day.

Richard Fahey saddles both Valley Of The Moon and Handsome Falcon, with the former, ridden by stable jockey Paul Hanagan, appearing to be the preferred of the pair. Valley Of The Moon has crept up the weights after two narrow defeats of late and there is a suspicion that she may be far from straight forward, so in-play layers will be looking for the first signs of her shirking the issue.

Handsome Falcon has been cut a little slack after two disappointing runs so far this term but there was a valid excuse for at least one of those outings and he could be about to improve, so any market support would be worth noting.

Musca is a deserved top weight after a great effort behind Shmookh at York on his seasonal bow and may prove a big danger to all. Howard Johnson's horses are running fairly well and he looks a rock solid investment in the place market at least.

Fabuleux Millie's only defeat from three starts came in listed company at Newbury, but she first has to prove that she has trained on from two to three, and then that she can hold her own in this decent handicap company. Her trainer Ralph Beckett has a poor record with his three-year-olds at Ripon and the percentage call looks to be to oppose her in the win market.

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