Since being broken by Kauto Star in last year's King George VI Chase, Barbers Shop (3.25) has had his confidence and health restored by a summer's break and can recapture his best form in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Barbers Shop was the only horse to try and put it up to the brilliant Kauto Star, after Nacarat was seen off, but ultimately the task proved too much and he weakened rapidly in the closing stages.
Maybe the effects of that run were still being felt later in the season as he was clearly below-par at Cheltenham and Punchestown. But when at his best, the Queen's horse is a high-quality performer and three miles and a furlong on good ground on a flattish track ought to suit him ideally.
Nacarat has always needed his first race of the season in the past, so The Tother One may pose his greatest danger. However, it would not be a surprise to see Ruby Walsh's mount struggling to match these rivals for pace at a vital stage, particularly if the race is run at only a steady pace. Newmarket 2.00 Despite having questions hanging over his attitude in a finish, First Cat would look a fair each-way bet in a contest that is big on runners but lacking depth. Dropping back to seven furlongs was clearly no help last time and he receives 4lb for the length he was beaten by Brick Red over a mile at Ascot previously.
Wetherby 2.15 Amber Brook may look a stand-out on official ratings, but the drop to two miles on good ground is surely going to do her no favours. With Issaquah's stable quiet at present, the selection must go to Alegralil, highly rated by her trainer and capable of a big run back at this trip.
Newmarket 2.35 Has Frankie Dettori chosen the wrong one of the Godolphin trio here? Alexandros has always been a quirky customer, but even by his standards he looked out of love with the game when well beaten at this track on his latest start and the application of a visor smacks of concerns over his attitude. Stablemate Secrecy, never out of the frame in 10 starts, is on the up at present and may be the better choice.
Wetherby 2.50 Capable of a big run on the back of a break, last year's winner Fair Along merits obvious respect but the concession of 8lb to Duc de Regniere poses a stiff enough question. Attempts at switching to a steeplechasing career have not always gone swimmingly for Nicky Henderson's runner, but he is a very smart performer on his day and the Henderson stable's form in the past couple of days is encouraging.
Newmarket 3.10 Having run above market expectations when beaten a length in a competitive sales race, the form of Aneedah's run has been franked several times since, not least by the filly when she effortlessly landed a maiden at Yarmouth a fortnight later. Further rain would not pose a problem.
Ascot 3.40 One-time Cheltenham Festival winner Massini's Maguire has not been seen for the best part of a year, but he rarely runs a bad race and may well benefit from a switch of stables to join David Pipe, who has been most complimentary about the new recruit. From Dawn To Dusk is feared most.
Horse sense
In the dying days of the Flat season it becomes increasingly difficult to see the horses working on the Newmarket Heath in the early morning, but through the gloom this week Picture Editor (3.45) shone like a beacon and it will be a disappointment if Henry Cecil's exciting colt cannot maintain an unbeaten record in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.
While official ratings suggest that he has something to find with Measuring Time, the form of Picture Editor's debut victory over Nathaniel seems ever stronger given the recent exploits of Frankel, who had to work hard to get the better of Nathaniel on his debut at this track in Newmarket. A handsome bay colt whose pedigree strongly suggests that today's mile-and-a-quarter trip will not pose a problem, his work has steadily improved as he has gained racecourse experience.
Stablemate Timepiece (4.20) would not be without a chance against the colts either. Although she ran respectably enough in defeat last time, Cecil was disappointed and continues to hold the filly in some regard.
Signor Verdi (2.00) has had niggling problems since his last racecourse appearance, a battling victory at Thirsk that seemed to confirm he was a young horse on the upgrade. Brian Meehan has not rushed to bring him back to the track and he is considered ready to do himself justice earlier on the same card today.
Vita Lika (12.50) offers uninspiring form figures, but works like one of Meehan's better juveniles at home and a decent showing at a double-figure price would not surprise.
Another outsider worth considering for each-way purposes is Goldan Jess (5.10) in the last contest at Wetherby. He will appreciate better ground and was a close second in this contest 12 months ago off a higher handicap mark.
Seen and heard
While it has been common in past years for several MPs to admit to payments from bookmakers for lobbying, the latest parliamentary register of interests shows only a few now take remuneration from the gambling world. Zac Goldsmith declares a shareholding in the elite credit betting firm Fitzdares – fronted by the ex-Ladbrokes PR man Balthazar Fabricius – while David Davies and Mark Simmonds both reveal they received free bets from Ladbrokes (and donated winnings to charity). But Matt Hancock, the new Tory MP for West Suffolk, certainly seems to have found favour with racing's establishment. The sales company Tattersalls donated £15,000 to his campaign and he has been given honorary membership of the upmarket Jockey Club Rooms, a gift worth £1,355.75, as well as two annual members' badges for Newmarket racecourse, worth £760.
Persistent rumours continue over Johnny Murtagh's future as stable jockey for Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle team, although any suggestion that Murtagh might leave is always flatly denied by those connected to the yard. Murtagh has, as would be expected, ridden all the team's principal Group One runners in Britain and Ireland in recent weeks, but has partnered only nine of the stable's 36 runners in the last fortnight, riding for other trainers in the same races on several occasions.
Best bet: Tocca Ferro 4.15 Ascot
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