Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders serves up two Chepstow wagers - including one strong each-way fancy - and one from Meydan on a busy Friday.
Doyen Star
1.30 Chepstow
1pt win
Kateson
4.05 Chepstow
2pts each-way
Valiant Prince
4.55 Meydan
1pt win
Doyen to star at Chepstow
There are several interesting sorts lining up for the opening novice hurdle (1.30) at Chepstow but I'm most intrigued by Doyen Star for Evan Williams, the trainer that landed this last season.
Doyen Star needs to improve from his course-and-distance success on his rules debut in November to defy a 6lb penalty, but that is almost certain to happen given his connections, who are renowned for their patient approach.
Those in behind Doyen Star have hardly advertised the strength of that form since. However, this expensively bought five-year-old wandered around after taking the lead jumping the last and looked as green as grass so can be marked up.
I reckon he scored with plenty left in the locker and it is encouraging that there was a few quid knocking around for him ahead of the Rossington Main last month before cold weather claimed that Haydock fixture.
This assignment is clearly easier than that Grade 2 and he should be going close.
Go on Kate my son
There is a cracking each-way wager with bet365 paying four places in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle (4.05) at Chepstow and that is Kateson for trainer Alistair Ralph.
I strongly fancied Kateson for a similar race here two-and-a-half-weeks ago, but that meeting was cancelled and he can earn a first success since December 2020.
Kateson scored off 134 that day but has fallen to a career-low rating of 115 and he is thrown in on past form.
The handicapper is dropping veterans quicker than perhaps ought to be the case nowadays and the key to this course-and-distance winner is catching him second time out.
The ten-year-old has recorded Racing Post Ratings of 136, 137, 139 and 132 (form figures of 1213) over hurdles and fences following his seasonal reappearance, and if he runs within half a stone of any of those efforts, that might be enough to roll back the years.
Draw a line through his previous few flops as trips around 3m stretch him and this intermediate distance will suit him down to the ground. Expect him to be sharper for his comeback over Christmas.
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Prince to rule in Meydan
The Group 2 Singspiel Stakes at Meydan (4.55) is almost an exact replica of the Al Rashidiya over course and distance three weeks ago, and I fancy Valiant Prince to uphold form with re-opposing second and third Dubai Future and Ottoman Fleet from a nice draw in stall two.
Although Ottoman Fleet went off odds-on that day, there is little reason to expect the near two-length gap between the pair to be reversed and Valiant Prince quite simply looks better suited to this 1m1f trip.
Valiant Prince was keen enough in the early exchanges in the Al Rashidiya and probably needed his first start for 217 days. That was his first outing since he produced a deeply impressive success in the Ganton Stakes at York over a mile in June and the assumption is he suffered a hold up in training.
Bar a minor blip at Ascot in a desperately slowly run Queen Anne Trial in April, my selection is progressing quickly and can maintain his unbeaten record at this track.
