A weekend tip below but first, two of last week's Aintree selections were narrowly denied, as Master Chewy was beaten a head by hot favourite Found A Fifty in the Grade One Maghull Novices' Chase.
In addition, Springwell Bay looked sure to go extremely close in the 2m4f handicap but stumbled a stride after two-out. The selection boasts form over further, so would have stayed on strongly in the testing conditions. Both remain horses to keep on side.
On Monday, Jack Sparowe put in good late work in the 1m2f handicap at Windsor. Keen and held up in rear, he made headway two-out and stayed on very well in the final furlong.
Returning from 161 days off, the son of Zoffany has won over 1m on turf & 1m3f on all-weather and will be fitter next time.
The same day, Singapore Trip ran a fine race when a close third in the fiercely competitive 2m5f handicap hurdle at Kelso.
This was the final of the Cab On Target Go North Series and Micky Hammond's six-year-old made headway from midfield two-out. He was disputing second when not fluent at the last but finished only a length and a half behind favourite Eire Street.
The ex-French son of Goken was a good third in a quality handicap at Wetherby over 2m3f two outings ago and can remain competitive.
Eben Zaabeel improved from his Newmarket debut when when fifth in the 1m2f three-year-old novice at Yarmouth on Saturday (replay below).
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Stepping up from 1m, the quality colt was keen and prominent but lost ground after four-out. He was going best when challenging three-out but weakened soon after.
The son of Sea The Stars will keep improving and could be very interesting in handicaps. Connections expect him to progress with experience and reckon he could stay 1m4f. This well related half-brother to Motazzen is closely related to 1m2f Group Two winner Bangkok.
Also on this card, Chris Dwyer had three near misses, including Berry Clever in the 1m three-year-old handicap. Well backed, the son of Expert Eye was keen and in touch but edged left after two-out. He kept on well but was headed in the final strides and this gelding will benefit from this second run back from a break.
Metkayina ran well for a long way in the Grade Two mares' bumper at Aintree on Thursday.
The daughter of Diamond Boy won at Ludlow in November for Sam Curling and was subsequently sold for £100,000; she's now with Noel Williams. Making her first start in 136 days, Metkayina travelled strongly in mid-division and was still going well on the outer in the home straight. Tiring in testing conditions, she held on for fourth and will be exciting over hurdles next term.
On Wednesday, Mr Hope Street looked well ahead of his rating when winning the handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Market Rasen.
Harry Skelton, who was initiating a treble, settled his mount towards rear and made steady headway after three-out. He pressed the leader with a good jump at the last and ran on well to win going away. Beaten over 2m on handicap debut last time, Mr Hope Street benefited greatly from this step up in trip.
I interviewed the winning jockey on Racing TV afterwards and he insisted: "The extra distance was a huge help and he was always finding plenty for me. There is a lot more to come because the penny still hasn't dropped."
One for the weekend...
We can't wait to see Buachaillbocht over fences at Tramore on Sunday.
Ted Walsh's classy son of Blue Bresil drops back to 2m but has tactical pace, as he showed when prominent early at Fairyhouse over 2m4f last time.
Unlucky not to win over hurdles that day, the gelding hit two out and made another error at the last but is expected to improve markedly for the switch to fences.
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