Batal Dubai can resume his progress by winning the Try Unibet’s Improved Bet Builder Handicap at Kempton on Wednesday evening.
A quality field has assembled for the best race of the day, and Harry Charlton’s sprinter can show the benefit of his last run at Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
That was his first outing for 74 days, having won at Chelmsford back in October, so it will have pleased connections that he showed up so well for so long in such a competitive race.
Clifford Lee attempted to make all and when he was headed two furlongs out, it could possibly have been expected that he would drop away but he stuck on really gamely to finish third behind Albasheer and the reopposing Fivethousandtoone.
He is 2lb better off with the runner-up for just over a length on this occasion, so combined with the fact he should strip fitter for the run, he can turn the tables.
Charlie Appleby’s Native Approach was a beaten favourite on his debut but he still went into plenty of notebooks.
He reappears in the first division of the Unibet More Extra Place Races Maiden Stakes and it will take a smart one to beat him.
The son of Too Darn Hot was unraced at two and made his debut over seven furlongs at Kempton last month.
Having missed the break, he was always up against it but he stayed on powerfully to be just beaten half a length.
Upped to a mile this time, he should take a world of beating.
The handicapper has not been able to keep up with Simon and Ed Crisford’s Inverlochy who is out again in the Unibet Zero% Mission Fillies’ Handicap.
Winner of four of her last five starts, her winning run began off a mark of 66 and she is up to 78 now.
Her last success was only by a neck and she is 3lb higher but she is one of those who only does enough, if she is allowed to dominate.
Henry de Bromhead sends Emotivo on the long journey from his Waterford base to Hereford and the hint should be taken.
Fourth in juvenile hurdles at Down Royal and Gowran, she is likely to find the standard easier in Herefordshire.
Rated 83 at her peak on the Flat, she is clearly no mug but she will need to settle better than last time out.
Illico De Cotte is given one more chance in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Maiden Hurdle.
After being beaten a nose at Lingfield on his rules debut, he was upped in class at Cheltenham but he was pulled up quickly after losing a shoe.
Down in grade at Wincanton, he was beaten a length by Oak Creek.
He has been found a good opportunity to open his account.
Torneo appears to have been well placed by Jamie Snowden in the Southern Cranes & Access Ltd. Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell.
The four-year-old is taking on his elders but in receipt of the age allowance and off a low handicap mark, he is getting a stone off top weight, the 111-rated Nashville Nipper.
Second on hurdling debut at Catterick, he was third to Triumph favourite Sir Gino at Kempton before bolting up in a bad race at Wetherby.
He may be better than an initial rating of 109.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP
Batal Dubai (7.00 Kempton)
DOUBLE
Native Approach (5.30 Kempton)
TREBLE
Inverlochy (6.30 Kempton)
YANKEE
Emotivo (2.00 Hereford)
