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Two placed efforts for Alan yesterday and a 1.2 in-running second
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Sea The Stars newcomer could get off to a winning start
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Alan Dudman has a 6.88 Sportsbook double for Monday at Catterick and Kempton
Satellite on the radar for bumper debut
Back Sleeping Satellite @ 2.757/4 in the 15:30 at Catterick
Another second yesterday for the column, but it was in the Troytown and Lifetime Ambition this time who went low in-running in defeat. A 1.21/5 in-play to go with Island Run's 1.011/100 in the last seven days was another painful one. However, with Rebellious Gale's place using the Extra Place Specials on the Sportsbook, a crumb of comfort came with the each-way double landed.
We had a bit of success with two bumper newcomers last week, and Sleeping Satellite is the one for the closing Catterick race on Monday.
Tipperary Star is the favourite at 11/8 for Warren Greatrex, and while she ran very well at Aintree on her debut, I tend to think that horses from the Greatrex yard often go off a little short in the betting.
Sleeping Satellite is a likely type on paper, and while that's a cliche, he is by Mahler and he's turning into an excellent staying stallion for jumpers. He won a PTP in April and subsequently changed hands for £85,000 at the Cheltenham Sales and with two bumper winners in his pedigree, he makes appeal on that front too.
His trainer Donald McCain shows a +22.50 profit at Catterick in the last five seasons.
Haggas newcomer can lead a choice field
Back Elnajmm @ 3.02/1 in the 16:15 at Kempton
William Haggas won the 16:15 7f Novice Stakes last term with Spirit Of Nguru and he could repeat the trick with his newcomer Elnajmm on Monday.
He turned out to be a 90 horse, and the draw gods must have seen that, as Spirit Of Nguru was drawn in 12 that day, and Elnajmm also has the 12 box.
This could be a good race with Ralph Beckett and Sean Woods fielding 2yos with experience and a John Gosden/George Strawbridge newcomer for good measure.
Haggas trained the selection's mother Muneyra, who won on the All-Weather in a light career on just her second start, and as a Dubawi, I like that angle as his runners act so well at Kempton and artificials. Elnajmm is a son of Sea The Stars, as is the Gosden runner Brightly and the sire's stats at Kempton are always worth noting at 14% win and 32%.
It's a field of choicely-bred newcomers, but a Sea The Stars will always sway me here and this is the dam's first ever runner.
October/November singles winners:
Lifetime Ambition 9/1 Placed
Rebellious Gale 9/2 Placed
Lunar Discovery 2/1 Won
Favour And Fortune 11/2 Win and Place
Halsafari 9/1 Placed
Tagabawa 4/5 Won
Documenting 7/2 Won
I See You Well 17/2 Placed
Eva's Oskar 8/1 Placed
Sea Gifted 11/4 Won
Sweet Will 9/1 Won and Placed
Vaynor 7/4 Won
Magical Vision 10/1 Won and Placed
De Legislator 9/10 Won
Captain Quint 2/1 Won
Fiston Du Mou 5/2 Won
Rickety Gate 5/2 Won
Warren Point 9/4 Won
Pennymoor 17/2 Won and Placed
Tarhib 5/1 Won
Hoganville 3/1 Won
Sole Pretender 9/1 Placed R4
Maximilian Evens Won
Another Odyssey 5/4 Won
Magnetic North 16/1 Placed
Mr Alan 4/1 Won
Bright Diamond 13/2 Placed
Hurtle 2/1 Won
Good Impression 3/1 Won
Soft Whisper 2/1 Won