Alan Thomson's Tips: Back a Lady thriller at Newmarket

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GRACEFUL LADY (3.30) was an expensive failure at Newbury last Friday and apprentice Darragh Keenan is given a chance to atone for an indifferent ride.

The 7lb claimer was so intent in dropping out his mount from her wide draw that he was 30 lengths adrift of trailblazing winner Incus after only two furlongs.

Graceful Lady made up a lot of ground early in the straight but ploughed a lone furrow up the far side, well away from where the action was unfolding and without any cover.

That was an apprentices’ ‘hands and heels’ contest and they can often throw up strange outcomes. I suspect this 2m handicap will be run more conventionally and Graceful Lady’s fifth here in the Betfred Cesarewitch Trial gives her every chance. Medburn Cutler finished seventh, almost two lengths behind my selection, and is no better off at the weights.

TOMAHAWK KID (1.10) popped up at a nice price at Doncaster last week and a 6lb penalty may not prevent a quick action replay.

The four-year-old benefited from sitting off a fairly strong gallop before streaking clear when switched to the far rail over a furlong out.

I was a disappointed runner-up England Expects failed to deliver at Nottingham on Wednesday but she gave the form a boost of sorts, and it’s worth recalling that she was in receipt of 20lb from Tomahawk Kid at Donny.

The ground will be riding a lot quicker at HQ, which has to be of some concern, and 5lb claimer Manuel Fernandes will need to find some cover for Tomahawk Kid.

Zamperini won this race two years ago but that came on soft ground, so the three-year-olds may provide the sternest challenge.
John Gosden’s Garrick was made favourite on his recent comeback at Windsor but managed only a one-paced seventh. He could leave that lacklustre run behind him.

Godolphin’s Celestial Spheres returns from a 215-day absence and it will be interesting to see how Charlie Appleby’s gelding goes in the betting.

Keith Dalgleish rewarded many of Mr Fixit’s racing followers with two easy winners earlier in the week and he despatches a couple of promising two-year-old fillies to Newcastle this evening.

Both BROKEN WINGS (6.15) and RIVERSIDE WALK (7.15) ran with plenty of encouragement on their debuts and I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on Betfair to see how they are trading near the off.