Grey Monument In Fine Form

By Tony Kelshaw

Grey’s Monument has returned from a summer break in fine form and can complete an autumn hat-trick in the Robin Hood Stakes at Nottingham.

Ralph Beckett’s charge comfortably defied top weight in a competitive Ascot handicap and then took a step up to Listed company in his stride at Redcar.

Although only six went to post for the Guisborough Stakes, a wide draw meant Grey’s Monument still had to do it the hard way, seeing plenty of daylight throughout and racing on what looked slightly worse ground than those inside.

Taking that into account, he showed a very likeable attitude to come through in the latter stages and score by half a length from Northern Express.

Both of those wins were gained over seven furlongs, but Grey’s Monument has prevailed over a mile on a couple of occasions before, including as a juvenile at York, and he always appreciates cut underfoot.

William Haggas introduces an interesting newcomer in the opening EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden Stakes, with Opportunity being an expensive Wathnan Racing purchase by Frankel.

His dam Izzi Top was a dual Group One winner who did not mind testing conditions and she has already produced half a dozen scorers.

Fireblade is another horse looking to uphold family honour in the Racing TV Club Novice Stakes, as John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old is a full brother to dual Champion Stakes hero Cracksman.

Having been gelded before making a belated racecourse debut at Kempton last month, it is safe to assume he has not been the most straightforward to train.

However, Fireblade showed the benefit of that experience when a staying-on neck second to Russian Crescendo at Ascot on soft going and is fancied to now make it third time lucky.

At Kempton, Dash Of Azure sets a strong standard in the Unibet Zero% Mission/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes following a couple of encouraging runner-up efforts.

The daughter of Blue Point caught a tartar when a distant second to Desert Flower at Newmarket first time up but then got much closer to Hold A Dream at Yarmouth, when shaping as though this return to seven furlongs would suit.

Hold A Dream had previously gone down by just a nose against Sky Majesty, who has since claimed Group-class victories at Ayr and Chantilly, so the form looks rock-solid.

Royal Jewel looks the type to do well over fences and gets the nod in the newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase.

After making all to win a 15-runner maiden hurdle at Exeter, he was twice second at the same track over the smaller obstacles, but the feeling is that there is plenty of scope for improvement at this game.

Instant Gambler has already been a revelation since sent chasing and he will be going for a fifth straight success at Fakenham.

Alexandra Dunn’s eight-year-old showed little over hurdles and was a 25-1 chance when making a successful debut over fences off a mark of just 64 in early September.

A 7lb penalty for last week’s strike at Fontwell puts him up as high as 92 but such was the ease with which he pulled seven lengths clear of Eurkash, he could still be ahead of the assessor in the Greene King Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

FAKENHAM: Race 1: 14.50 Laser Focus, Race 2: 15.20 Phone Home, Race 3: 15.50 Opec,
Race 4: 16.20 Instant Gambler, Race 5: 16.50 Authentic Legacy, Race 6: 17.20 Grain
d'Oudairies, Race 7: 17.50 Mavis Pike.

NOTTINGHAM: Race 1: 15.05 Opportunity, Race 2: 15.35 Shaladar, Race 3: 16.08 GREY'S
MONUMENT (NAP), Race 4: 16.38 Fireblade, Race 5: 17.08 Blind Beggar, Race 6: 17.38
Albegone, Race 7: 18.08 Contrast.

NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 16.00 Hymac, Race 2: 16.30 Royal Jewel, Race 3: 17.00 Pirates'
Tale, Race 4: 17.30 Itseemslikeit, Race 5: 18.00 Pachacuti, Race 6: 18.30 Kosac D'Oudairies.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 18.23 Bosphorus Rose, Race 2: 19.00 Notimeforchitchat, Race 3: 19.30
Dash Of Azure, Race 4: 20.00 Season Of Light, Race 5: 20.30 Grenham Bay, Race 6: 21.00
Wiltshire Wonder, Race 7: 21.30 Heerathetrack, Race 8: 22.00 Art Fantastique, Race 9: 22.30
Beggarman.

ALL TO COME: Grey's Monument (Nottingham Race 3) and Dash Of Azure (Kempton Race 3).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com