ATHMAD was narrowly denied a hat-trick last time out but can make amends in the Spreadex Sports Get £50 In Bonuses Handicap at Southwell.
A winner over a mile at the Nottinghamshire venue at the start of March, Ruth Carr then sent her charge to Wolverhampton, where he again proved too sharp for his rivals in defying a 4lb rise to win by a cosy length-and-a-half.
The handicapper then hiked him a further 5lb and he only just failed to prevail, going down by a head after being forced to mount his challenge widest of all turning for home.
He could not reel in the keen-going winner that day, but he only just failed and remains one for the shortlist as he is due to go up another 2lb after this.
Sweet William is the choice in the Scu Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Novice Stakes after showing some promise when runner-up in two starts last term.
A half-brother to St Leger winner Hurricane Lane, he did not make his racecourse debut until the September of his three-year-old season, beaten just a neck by the now 90-rated Evania after giving plenty of trouble at the start at Kempton.
Sent off favourite to make it second time lucky on the turf at Ascot, Sweet William again had to settle for the silver medal as Cadmus had his measure by half a length, using his extra racecourse experience to good effect with the pair nicely clear.
Sweet William looks a staying type and while this may not be his optimum trip, he looks a potential class act.
Smooth Ryder can get off the mark at the seventh time of asking in the Ladies Day 2023 With Bananarama Handicap at Chelmsford.
He came within a head of victory at Lingfield last month, only to be edged out by the fast-finishing Ectocross, who was making his debut for a new yard and was the subject of some significant support.
Smooth Ryder’s cause was not helped by getting tightened up in the finish and he should not be dismissed just yet.
Onesoc was all at sea stepped up in trip on heavy ground recently but should find the wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase much more to his liking, while Clody Flyer lines up in the Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle and he could be a smart recruit for Donald McCain.
A point-to-point winner at Borris House in Ireland back in December, he hails from a fine school in Colin Bowe’s yard.
THURSDAY'S IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Athmad (6.30: Southwell)
DOUBLE Sweet William (6.00: Southwell)
TREBLE Smooth Ryder (5.05: Chelmsford)
YANKEE Onesoc (3.45: Wetherby)
