By Tony Kelshaw
Lessay let favourite-backers down at Kempton last month but can recoup those losses when returning for the Unibet Supports Safe Gambling Novice Stakes.
Andrew Balding’s charge looked all set to make it two from two when kicking on from the front just after entering the home straight but then showed a few signs of greenness.
Having jinked at the cut-away, the Churchill colt was asked to quicken up again between the final two furlongs and appeared to take control of proceedings.
However, he continued to wander about a bit and that left him vulnerable to the late surge of Newsreader when the petrol tank emptied in the closing stages.
Lessay is now 5lb better off with that rival, who had been over eight lengths back in seventh when Balding’s Churchill colt impressed on his successful racecourse debut, again over this course and distance.
That form received a boost when runner-up Rascal Recknell landed the odds at Lingfield recently and Lessay looks worth another chance, especially after another month to mature and with Oisin Murphy back on board.
Symbol Of Light appears ready to strike for the first time since joining Julie Camacho in the Unibet Zero% Mission Handicap.
The five-year-old was once a promising youngster for Charlie Appleby, completing a hat-trick of wins in the Godolphin colours just over two years ago.
After being bought for 60,000 guineas in October 2022, he spent time on the sidelines but returned from a 518-day lay-off with an encouraging fourth at Newcastle in the summer.
There have been more training setbacks since, but placed efforts here in November and at Newcastle on New Year’s Day suggest all is well at last.
The Gosforth Park second to Dear My Friend looks particularly strong form after the winner followed up in fine style at Lingfield in the Listed-class Tandridge Stakes on Sunday.
Over the jumps at Ludlow, Palio is given another chance in the Racing To School Juvenile Hurdle after being given time to recover from being pulled up in heavy ground at Aintree last time.
Alan King’s gelding had previously chased home Burdett Road at Huntingdon on his encouraging National Hunt debut and also had some decent Flat form.
Bonttay was all the rage for a valuable mares’ handicap at Cheltenham in mid-December and was still travelling well when parting company with Paddy Brennan two out.
Fergal O’Brien clearly thinks a lot of the seven-year-old, who registered six wins and three seconds in her first nine races, so she is worth sticking with in the Watch On RacingTV Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
All eyes will be on royal runner Reach For The Moon when he goes over obstacles for the first time in the Betting.Bet New Betting Sites Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield.
The five-year-old was once rated a potential Derby contender when claiming a Group Three juvenile success for John and Thady Gosden and holds a Supreme entry at the Cheltenham Festival.
Townhill relished a step up to three miles when scoring gamely at Doncaster and another three furlongs in the Betting.Bet Free Members Club Handicap Hurdle will be no problem on that evidence.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 15.40 Arlo, Race 2: 16.10 Reach For The Moon, Race 3: 16.40 You Say
Nothing, Race 4: 17.10 On Cloud Nine, Race 5: 17.40 Big Bee Hive, Race 6: 18.10 Just Call Me
Al, Race 7: 18.40 Townhill.
LUDLOW: Race 1: 15.50 Palio, Race 2: 16.20 South Omo Zone, Race 3: 16.50 Can You Call,
Race 4: 17.20 Bonttay, Race 5: 17.50 Chance A Tune, Race 6: 18.20 Tea Clipper, Race 7:
18.50 Looking As You Are.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 19.30 Himawari, Race 2: 20.00 LESSAY (NAP), Race 3: 20.30 Neapolitan,
Race 4: 21.00 Symbol Of Light, Race 5: 21.30 Egoiste, Race 6: 22.00 Katar, Race 7: 22.30
Capstan.
ALL TO COME: Lessay and Symbol Of Light (Kempton, Races 2 and 4).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com