Balding's charge to take another Step towards handicap success

Left Alone 1.45 Newmarket

Left Alone has created a good impression in defeat on her two starts and the extra furlong could mean it’s third time lucky for this daughter of Reckless Abandon.

Hugo Palmer’s filly has shaped with a deal of promise on both her outings and on each occasion she has hinted that a stiffer test of stamina could see her in better light.

On her debut at Yarmouth, Left Alone was green in the early exchanges but finished strongly to split a pair of exciting fillies. The third, Flying Sparkle, has since franked the form by finishing runner-up in a Listed event at Redcar.

Last time out she was unable to catch the positively ridden Tivoli but managed to close the deficit down to just over a length.

Strongly Suggested 1.35 Worcester

Strongly Suggested was a decisive winner at Warwick last month and a rare visit from Barry Geraghty, who is heading to Worcester for just one ride, could enable him to follow up.

The ten-year-old would have been an unlucky loser – he was made to sit and suffer while some of his fancied rivals got first run – but he picked up well for pressure and was value for his three-and-a-half-length win.

A 7lb rise makes things tougher for Jonjo O’Neill’s charge but competition is thin on the ground and he has won on three of his six visits here.

The son of Kayf Tara is just 2lb lower than his highest winning mark but that success came at this track and this sound jumper, with conditions to suit, should make Geraghty’s efforts worthwhile.

Cape To Cuba (each-way) 6.50 Kempton

Cape To Cuba is a lightly raced maiden who could improve now tackling handicaps for the first time.

James Fanshawe’s three-year-old has finished runner-up in three of her five starts in maidens, her most recent coming over course and distance, and there’s enough to suggest she could be fairly treated off a mark of 75.

She was second to the 85-rated Commander in June and then runner-up to Zabeel Prince, while last time out she drew clear with the 80-rated Psychotic when just touched off.

Oisin Murphy is booked and he has two winners from just 11 rides for Fanshawe in the past five seasons. A further six of those mounts have finished placed.

Hidden Steps (each-way) 3.30 Newmarket

Hidden Steps may be a horse to target fresh but in a race consisting of runners with plenty to prove, she is well worth consideration.

Andrew Balding’s charge added to her two-year-old debut success at Windsor nine days ago following a lengthy layoff and could be dangerous in her bid to follow up under a penalty.

She was highly tried as a juvenile – sent off at just 10-1 for the Group 2 May Hill at Doncaster – and a few subsequent blips over longer trips have led to her being brought back in trip.

She made all to defy top weight and a mark of 82 on her first handicap start over the trip and the manner of her victory, where she found plenty for pressure, suggests there may still be more to come.

This race requires more but she has had only two attempts in handicaps – her first coming over a trip out of her depth – and she will be hard to pass.

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