Hornby looking for more Meade success on Engrossed at Kempton

Rob Hornby is expected to further cement his growing association with Martyn Meade when he is reunited with Engrossed in the 32Red Casino Novice Stakes (5.45) on the twilight card at Kempton this afternoon.

Andrew Balding's protege was aboard the daughter of Tamayuz when she beat some well-regarded Newmarket fillies over this trip of seven furlongs at Wolverhampton last month.

Engrossed picks up a 7lb penalty for that defeat of the well-backed Regal Banner and Expert Eye's sister Clerisy in the West Midlands in a strong looking contest.

Hornby is out to improve on his already excellent 27 per cent strike-rate for Meade in the 14-runner contest in which she must give weight to all but one of her rivals.

As well as Engrossed, since the start of the all-weather season Hornby has steered promising sorts such as Monoxide, Airwaves and Crackling home in novice contests for the Manton team and it is a collaboration that could well continue.

Martyn Meade is looking to continue his promising partnership with Rob HornbyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hornby said: "I rode out for Mr Meade last year and hopefully it's an association that we can build on this year. Engrossed put up a very nice performance at Wolverhampton when I got a nice split up the rail and she went away nicely in what was a strong race. She's still learning and hopefully there will be more to come from her."

Noora looking Gorgeous at Lingfield

Gorgeous Noora could be set for a date with new Tweenhills shuttle stallion Zoustar if she can get some black type this winter and bids to score for the first time for her new connections in the Play 4 to Score At Betway Handicap (2.30) at Lingfield.

The daughter of Raven's Pass was once regarded as a Classic hope by her former trainer Luca Cumani and won three races for the now retired Newmarket trainer before being sold for 200,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sales.

Her new part-owners are Tweenhills boss David Redvers and breeder David Howden for whom she makes a quick reappearance after her unfortunate defeat over course and distance last Saturday.

The five-year-old finished third to Alsvinder on that day and is out for compensation before tackling some bigger assignments.

Gorgeous Noora's owners are hopeful a date with Zoustar is in the mare's futureCredit: Michael Dodge

Redvers said: "Gorgeous Noora was bought with an eye to getting some black type and then sending her to our stallion Zoustar who is shuttling here this winter.

"She was met with no luck in running the other day and Archie Watson felt that she had come out of that in such good shape that she would be good to go again even though that was just six days ago. Hopefully she can get her head in front before having a crack at some better races."

McGuinness hoping for more Dundalk magic

Nobody will bound into Dundalk on Friday evening with a smile brighter than Adrian McGuinness, the Dublin-based handler approaching his happiest hunting ground off the back of a treble here last week.

In many ways, last week's haul was just a continuation of McGuinness's fine record at the track, having sent out his highest tally of 16 winners at Dundalk in 2018.

Reflecting on the memorable evening, McGuinness said: "I’ve gone to Dundalk confident many times before and ended up coming home with nothing, so you never take anything for granted in this game.

"But we fancied them all last week and for it to work out like it did was amazing really. Small yards like ours don’t have trebles very often so we really appreciated it.”

He added: "Stephen Thorne has been a great addition to the yard and he’s organised a whole host of racing syndicates, including the Shamrock Thoroughbreds, who own Georgian Bay.

"I’d say the yard had gone a bit stagnant before he came, but through embracing social media and other things we’ve managed to attract owners to the yard and increase the quality of horses. We’ve five or six premier handicap horses to look forward to this season, which is great."

Looking to the more immediate future, McGuinness runs last week’s winner Georgian Bay in the 1m handicap (7.30) and the stable are doubly represented in the concluding 6f sprint (8.30) with Kasbah and Hee Haw.

View the result and replay of Georgian Bay's win last Friday here

He said: "Georgian Bay obviously comes here in very good form, and to be honest, he hasn't run a bad race at Dundalk. He seems to love the place. Tom [Madden] has done a great job with him and they get on well together so we're hoping for another good run.

"Kasbah is a classy horse and the 6f trip should suit him well. He's been a little bit disappointing on the whole but he's in good form. It's much the same with Hee Haw and he probably has a better draw. I'd find it hard to separate the two.”

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