Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Sunday including 40/1 Curragh fancy

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Doncaster, 13:25 - Back Novelette E/W @ 25/126.00

Three-year-old filly Novelette could have more to give in only her seventh career start for Simon and Ed Crisford. She finished third to Zelaina on Nottingham debut before getting off the mark in a Yarmouth maiden later on and doubling up on handicap debut from an opening mark of 78.

In two runs since, including following a 275-day break when last seen, the daughter of Sioux Nation has finished fifth. She's entitled to come on for her return to action, however, and could be dangerous from a mark of 86.

A £410,000 breeze-up purchase, Novelette has to find further improvement but could be capable of a better showing than her price suggests and shouldn't be discounted, still unexposed and lightly-raced as a young filly.

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Curragh, 13:45 - Back Headmaster E/W @ 12/113.00

Edward Lynam-trained Headmaster is on a workable mark of 89 in this competitive handicap, currently only 3lb higher than his last winning mark when successful at odds of 14/115.00 over course-and-distance in May and 2lb lower than when beaten only by Gleneagle Bay in his subsequent run at Cork. 

Despite being unable to make a serious impression in either of his latest two outings, the four-year-old gelding could be worth keeping onside with proven course form as he makes appeal at the weights. He holds strong each-way claims if able to enjoy a favourable trip and could go close in the hands of Joey Sheridan.

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Curragh, 13:45 - Back Red Evolution E/W @ 33/134.00

Michael O'Callaghan-trained Red Evolution is an interesting contender from a mark of 84, only 1lb higher than when winning at Naas last month. He has been successful from a higher mark previously, when winning at Cork from a rating of 88 last year, and could outrun his odds under Rory Cleary.

A likeable performer on his day, the four-year-old gelding warrants each-way consideration for an in-form yard. He has good course form in handicap company, when second to Keke in a 14-runner contest previously, and was only narrowly denied by Henri Matisse on debut here as a juvenile.

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Doncaster, 15:05 - Back Copacabana Sands E/W @ 33/134.00

Andrew Balding-trained Copacabana Sands could give a good account of herself at a price in this competitive and open Group Three.

She has proven form at this level for former trainer Michael O'Callaghan, as well as a Listed success to her name, and, although she hasn't been hugely competitive in two starts for her current yard to date, she was far from disgraced at Chester when last seen behind Bellarchi.

This assignment could well suit and she has shown enough ability in the past to suggest she could make her presence felt if able to return to her best. She shouldn't be discounted under Oisin Murphy and may be capable of a resurgence at this level.

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Notable winners from Katie in recent weeks

• Who's Glen @ 15/2
• Brian @ 11/2
• Zgharta @ 5/1
• Sunriseontheboyne @ 11/1
• Land Of The Giants @ 9/2
• Giant @ 20/1
• Abundant @ 6/1
• Mia Fantasia @ 5/1
• Balon d'Or @ 5/1
• Fizzy Cristal @ 15/2

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Curragh, 15:25 - Back Night Raider E/W @ 9/110.00

Karl Burke-trained Night Raider began the season in good fashion following a gelding operation, landing two Group successes including when beating American Affair by a length in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.

He hasn't been able to land a serious blow since, but has emerged with credit in two Group One appearances including when last seen in sixth behind Bacio in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

It could be worth keeping the faith in the five-year-old, who clearly possesses ability. He could give a good account of himself in this field for an in-form yard under James Doyle, holding solid each-way claims on his day.

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Doncaster, 15:40 - Back All In You E/W @ 11/26.50

Six-year-old gelding All In You is two from four on the Turf and didn't get the run of things when ninth in the Ascot Stakes when last seen, far from disgraced in a run worth forgiving. He could be capable of better and makes appeal from a mark of 90 in this contest, representing the Warren Greatrex yard.

Earlier this year and during the previous National Hunt campaign, All In You shaped with promise over hurdles and could be capable of more in that sphere too. He's unexposed in this kind of contest and may be well-treated from his current mark, holding solid each-way claims.

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Bet of the day: Curragh, 16:00 - Back Haffner @ 4/15.00

Aidan O'Brien is strongly represented in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, but team Ballydoyle all have to beat favourite Monogram, who represents Joseph O'Brien for Juddmonte. 

Haffner gets the nod in the field, however, following an impressive Acomb Stakes success at York when last seen. He returned to winning ways following a second-placed finish to Dr Rascal in his previous start, having beaten Al Wathba in a Newmarket maiden at the July Festival earlier in the summer.

Making his fifth appearance in this contest, the son of Justify could be capable of showing further improvement having already shaped with promise and proven himself in Group company. He needs to take another step forward and could do so in the hands of Wayne Lordan, making appeal as he bids for a third career win in his first Group One appearance.

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Curragh, 16:35 - Back Jan Brueghel @ 11/26.50

Whilst it will likely take a mighty performance to beat talented stayer Scandinavia, his stablemate Jan Brueghel is an interesting opponent, largely unexposed over this trip.

The St Leger winner at Doncaster has proven his stamina in the past, but has only been seen once over a similar distance since his Classic win when winning the Ormonde Stakes in fine fashion earlier this season. He has been beaten twice over a mile-and-a-half in recent outings, including when a staying on fourth to Giavellotto in the Hardwick Stakes, and might enjoy this step back up in distance at this stage in his career.

A top Group One performer on his day, who beat Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last year, the five-year-old has been rated as high as 126 during his career so far and could be able to find a resurgence up in distance in only his 11th career start.

The favourite is bidding for an eighth successive win following Group One glory in both the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and Goodwood Cup, but this is over a shorter distance and, although he isn't shy on speed over this trip and has proven form over the distance, he may be vulnerable to a classy middle-distance performer such as Jan Brueghel, who could give him something to think about late on.

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Doncaster, 17:20 - Back Raatea E/W @ SP

Experienced nine-year-old Raatea is 2lb below his last winning mark, when successful at Newcastle last autumn, currently on a rating of 73 for Julie Camacho and Tom Kiely-Marshall. He has gone close since from a 5lb higher mark at the same venue, and made the frame on a couple of occasions subsequently too, putting him in with a solid each-way chance at the weights.

His latest run at Redcar was a creditable effort in which he was fourth to Mr Cool at odds of 14/115.00, beaten two-and-a-quarter-lengths, and there could be more to come from him from this rating, making him one to note.

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Curragh, 17:45 - Back Apercu E/W @ 40/141.00

In the concluding Curragh race on Sunday, a competitive 23-runner mile-and-a-quarter handicap, Apercu is one to note at a price for Andrew Oliver and Chris Hayes.

The course-and-distance winner is currently 5lb below her last winning mark when successful here in May of last year, narrowly denying Cloud Seeker at odds of 9/110.00 that day.

Although she's winless since, she has been tried in tough company and did prove she still retains ability when a good fourth to Final Voyage on reappearance at Cork in the spring.

From a workable rating, it could be worth keeping the faith in the six-year-old mare, who may be able to outrun her odds in her 23rd career start.

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