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Ally the one to steel with at Ffos Las

October 2024

Steel Ally has the scope to cope with a big weight in the DragonBet Proud Sponsor Of The Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on Sunday.

Having been highly tried in bumpers behind the likes of Golden Ace and Gidleigh Park, he looked set to make a winning start over timber at this track 11 months ago when coasting along in front approaching the final flight.

However, the Sam Thomas-trained gelding stumbled badly at that obstacle and ultimately finished a very unfortunate second.

Following an aborted effort on bottomless ground, compensation came at Wincanton in February and Steel Ally then ran a cracker when going down by just a neck to the progressive Doyen Quest at Newbury.

The six-year-old signed off last term with a fine third of 20 in a valuable Sandown novice final and everything suggests he is the type to get stronger with age.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has been on a real hot streak in recent weeks and Smiling Getaway can help to maintain that momentum in the DragonBet Bet £10 Get £30 Conditional Jockeys' Mares' Handicap Chase.

She made a good impression when scoring over hurdles at Ludlow and Warwick last season before facing a couple of tough tests and this looks a nice way to start out over fences.

Wicked Thoughts looks the one to be on in the DragonBet On Course Values Online Maiden Hurdle for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

He was bought for £135,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point by 25-lengths and fared well in three bumpers, scoring at Musselburgh from previous winner Getagin in between placed efforts in hot company.

Qetaifan ploughed through heavy ground in impressive fashion when justifying his short odds at Chester and can defy a penalty in the William Hill/British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Goodwood.

Andrew Balding's juvenile might not have beaten much on the Roodee but he galloped on strongly in testing conditions in a most taking manner and this does not look a hot contest.

Alcazan may be closing in on half a century of starts but the six-year-old put in a career-best effort when bolting up in a valuable Ascot handicap earlier this month.

Hayley Turner retains the ride after that excellent effort and Roger Teal's mare has also won with Saffie Osborne in the saddle this term, so she clearly enjoys having a female pilot.

Balding introduces an interesting newcomer with Karthon in the Goodwood Racehorse Owners Group EBF Novice Stakes.

The son of New Bay is out of smart mare Fantasia, who has already produced four winners, including Group Three victor Berlin Tango.

Richard Hughes has hit a rich vein of form, so Whip Cracker is taken to come good in the Inkerman London Handicap.

He was a fair third at Newbury on his first start since being gelded and is entitled to strip fitter for that outing, having previously been off for three months.

The outstanding line of form on Whip Cracker's card is an April second to subsequent Royal Ascot and Prix Dollar scorer Jayarebe, with Listed victor Caviar Heights and Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly in behind him that day. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

CORK: Race 1 - 15.00 Action Plan, Race 2 - 15.35 Kish Bank, Race 3 - 16.10 Femme Magnifique, Race 4 - 16.45 Ah Remy Martin, Race 5 - 17.20 Senecia, Race 6 - 17.55 Noble Birth, Race 7 - 18.30 Meitheal.

FFOS LAS: Race 1 - 15.10 Smiling Getaway, Race 2 - 15.45 WICKED THOUGHTS (NAP), Race 3 - 16.20 Ito Ditto, Race 4 - 16.55 Steel Ally, Race 5 - 17.30 Abbeyhill, Race 6 - 18.05 Supposedtobe, Race 7 - 18.40 Kate Of The Lodge.

GOODWOOD: Race 1 - 14.50 Clever Relation, Race 2 - 15.25 Qetaifan, Race 3 - 16.00 Alcazan, Race 4 - 16.35 Number, Race 5 - 17.10 Karthon, Race 6 - 17.45 Whip Cracker, Race 7 - 18.20 Magic Memories.

NAAS: Race 1 - 14.05 Misappropriation, Race 2 - 14.40 Bounty, Race 3 - 15.15 Dignam, Race 4 - 15.50 Azada, Race 5 - 16.25 Caught U Looking, Race 6 - 17.00 Seddon, Race 7 - 17.35 Chicago Storm, Race 8 - 18.10 Thor's Hammer.

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