A double-figure draw in the John Smith's Cup is not insurmountable if the horse is good enough. In the last 10 years, however, the only ones to have won from so far out were Mullins Bay, a Group Three winner next time, and Arcalis, a subsequent winner of the Supreme Novice Hurdle.
Backers of today's favourite Mutajarred, drawn 11, have to ask themselves just one question - is he that good? Because, if not, he and Richard Hills have got their work cut out trying to get an early position.
Hills may have to put up with the annoying fate of following home the second colours of his principal employer, owner Hamdan Al Maktoum. Like Mutajarred, Ezdiyaad (3.15), a best-priced 9-1, is progressive and proven on the soft. He can be forgiven his last run, when failing to cope with a mile and a half on fast ground.
York 2.10 Osteopathic Remedy is on a roll and is preferred to the lightly raced Swop, who will be backed more on his trainer's reputation than his own achievements.
Chester 2.25 Tamagin came fifth in the Wokingham despite hanging across the track, his only finish outside the first two for 18 months. His yard is flying and he can defy a tricky draw.
York 2.40 Swift Princess will like the ground and should be forgiven her flop two starts ago, when she was lame. Everymanforhimself has something to prove on this ground.
Ascot 2.55 Ramonti's five Group One successes, two of which came here, make him the clear pick but he is apparently short of peak fitness on this return from a leg infection. The suggested alternative is Pressing, who hasn't been tried over this trip for two years. Still, he may prove best at a mile after failing to get home over 10 furlongs in the Prince of Wales's Stakes last month, when he was travelling better than Duke Of Marmalade on the turn for home.
Chester 3.35 A Listed winner over six furlongs here last year, Green Manalishi is still fast enough for the minimum trip, with the help of a low draw.
York 3.50 Successful here on heavy last summer, Gull Wing won at Listed level on his reappearance before finding the ground too lively last time.
Ascot 4.00 Sanbuch has been threatening to take a race like this for some time. A bit of cut, a step up in trip and Ryan Moore on board for the first time may do the trick.
Horse sense
Mutajarred (3.15) is already favourite for today's John Smith's Cup at York but look for his price to contract - William Haggas's charge has been the subject of positive reports all week. In any case, owner Hamdan Al Maktoum appears to have a lock on the race, as one of his two other runners, Ezdiyaad, is thought to be the main danger. The colt has been in fine form since disappointing at Ascot.
Brian Meehan's yard was going through a bad patch the last time we saw Supersonic Dave (3.50) but they're firing again now and the four-year-old can prove his wellbeing in York's Listed handicap. Swop (2.10) looks well treated in the opener, while Rio Guru (5.00) is also fancied. Out of her depth last time, she has apparently been working well with Mick Channon's well-regarded fillies.
Richard Hannon is the man to follow in the two-year-old events at Ascot. His Rio Del Oro (2.20) is primed to make an impressive debut, though he'll need to, as Chesham third Markyg sets a high standard. In the nursery, Hannon's Heliodor (3.25) is expected to step up on his three beaten efforts in maidens.
Meanwhile, Michael Bell has a likely pair for a couple of the handicaps as Metaphoric (4.00) and Badalona (5.10) are both reckoned to have legitimate excuses for their latest defeats. Green Manalishi (3.35) and Titus Andronicus (4.10) can go in at Chester, where Army Of Angels (2.25) is also fancied.
Scuffle (9.00) will appreciate a bit of cut at Salisbury tonight, having won in spite of the fast going last time at Nottingham in a race that has worked out well.
King Bathwick (2.00) is expected to make a successful jumps debut for David Pipe at Stratford tomorrow.
Look out for an unraced two-year-old filly from Michael Jarvis's yard - Kammaan looks a seriously good prospect.
Seen and heard
York racegoers caught short after a day's drinking at the John Smith's meeting today have no excuse. Ten portable toilets, between the track and the city centre, are being trialled today in response to complaints that tired and emotional racegoers have been urinating in the street after recent meetings.
Royal Superlative, the first horse owned jointly by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, makes her debut at Nottingham today. The track weren't anticipating a visit yesterday and we did hear that the filly hadn't initially been impressing on the gallops.
Jimmy Pursey, frontman of punk heroes Sham 69, seemed anxious that winning rider Johnny Murtagh take a package with him back to Ballydoyle after his win on Mount Nelson at Sandown last weekend. "That's for Seamie," said Pursey, handing it over. Maybe Pursey had a big win in the Irish Derby when Seamus Heffernan was victorious. We're going down the pub, anyone?
The Racing Post's Jonathan Neesom believes in kicking a dog when it's down. In Wednesday's Worcester preview he wrote of The Sportsman, a chaser sharing the name of the now defunct rival to the Post: "Even less successful than his namesake so far."
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