Tom McGarry's tips for Wednesday include selections from Wetherby, Nottingham and Kempton.
There are five meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland on Wednesday, with Flat racing from Navan, Bath, Nottingham and Kempton (AW) joined by day one of a new season of National Hunt racing from Wetherby.
We have three fancies to follow on the midweek cards, including one for the ever-reliable team of Brian Hughes and Donald McCain at Wetherby.
Selections
Geromino (Wetherby, 14:25) @ SP
Regheeb (Nottingham, 15:45) @ SP
Dr Foster (Kempton, 19:00) @ SP
Hughes and McCain can strike at Wetherby
The Brian Hughes and Donald McCain alliance is one of the most reliable on the northern racing circuit and, no doubt, another winter of winners lies ahead for them.
McCain’s team have been a little bit quiet of late but GEROMINO could be one to get this partnership on the scoreboard on the first day of the new season at Wetherby.
This gelding racked up a four-race winning sequence last year from July-September and then went down fighting in a match against the smart Tommy’s Oscar at Carlisle in October on what proved his final start until April.
He was out of sorts in three runs following that comeback but his runner-up finishes at Bangor (2m1½f, good) and Kelso (2m1f, good) in recent months have represented a return to form.
He was unfortunate to run into on-song winners and the form of both races has been boosted since. He is now 5lb below his last win-mark and everything seems tilted towards another big effort here.
Regheeb has more to come for Watson
Trainer Archie Watson is another for whom things have been quieter than normal of late and he will be eager to see REGHEEB impress on handicap bow at Nottingham in the hands of Hollie Doyle.
The New Approach colt made a winning debut back in April over an extended-mile on soft ground at this course and has only run twice since.
Connections opted for a sharp rise in grade as they headed for Chantilly in May for a Listed race won by no less than subsequent unbeaten Arc winner Ace Impact, so that outing is not one on which he can be judged harshly.
After a break, he returned in August on the Polytrack at Lingfield where he made it 2-3 by giving weight and a sound beating to four rivals over this mile-and-a-quarter distance.
An opening mark of 93 is his reward but he has a good chance of defying that on these terms, getting an allowance from the older rivals he meets now and the return to Colwick Park should be another positive.
Dr Foster ready to breakthrough
Mick Appleby’s DR FOSTER arrives into this contest off the back of finishing second over 7f at Wolverhampton 11 days ago, going down by a diminishing head on the line as front-running favourite Secret Bid just about held on having committed for home and opened up a nice break on the field off the final bend.
The front two in that race were some six-lengths clear and this colt was strong through the line, very much leaving the impression the step up to a mile will suit now. He has a good chance to pocket a nice prize as such.
The filly China Trade ran well at Doncaster in July on her second start, finishing fourth behind a talented newcomer (won again next time before going close in a French Group 3) and Charlie Johnston’s daughter of Belardo is one to monitor closely here as such.
