John Gosden and Jim Crowley on Gosforth Park retrieval mission with Daarik
John Gosden has seven runners across two all-weather fixtures on Wednesday. Three go to Newcastle, including the youngster Daarik who may well have had excuses when finishing last on his debut at Nottingham back in May.
The 325,000gns purchase was sent off second favourite at 7-2 prior to finishing last of ten behind Cool Exhibit that day and bids to make amends in the second division of the Ladbrokes-sponsored EBF novice stakes (4.15) over six furlongs.
Gosden said: "Daarik came back lame after Nottingham and it's taken us some time to get him right but he's been working nicely on the all-weather surfaces at home of late. Hopefully he can get back on track."
Jim Crowley, who has three rides at the Tyneside track, renews his acquaintance with Hamdan Al Maktoum's juvenile who has been ridden by the owner's assistant racing manager Richard Hills on recent work mornings of late.
Gosden also sends St Peters Basilica and Playfull Spirit to Newcastle, but has four runners over at Wolverhampton including the Frankel filly Frisella in division two of the Ladbrokes-sponsored fillies' novice stakes (2.45).
Khalid Abdullah's filly, who has been absent since finishing runner-up to Cupboard Love on her debut at Haydock in July, is out to go one better than her sister Panmolle who carried the same colours into second at Dunstall Park last week.
Gosden, who also fields newcomer Whimbrel in the 1m½f contest, said: "Frisella has been working nicely at home but she doesn't have the greatest draw in the world coming wide from stall ten. Hopefully she can break well and overcome it."
Other Clarehaven representatives in the West Midlands include Graffiti Master in the Play 4ToScore At Betway Handicap (4.30), who is tackling the all-weather for the first time since scoring impressively at Kempton last year.
Sister to Breeders' Cup winner on duty at Wolverhampton
It is not often that you get a sister to a two-time Group 1 winner on show at Wolverhampton, so all eyes will be on Ophelia's Dream when she makes her debut in division one of the fillies' novice stakes (2.15).
The Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile is a sibling to the recently retired Wuheida who enjoyed her finest hour when lifting the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar last November.
Following that, Wuheida looked as good as ever when romping away with the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in May but was retired to the paddocks after the recurrence of an old injury.
Although that is a hard act to follow, Ophelia's Dream has been pleasing in her recent work at Moulton Paddocks and a good run looks assured.
Alighted heads likely informative maiden
The opening BETDAQ Trading Tools Maiden Hurdle (12.25) at Punchestown was an informative affair 12 months ago as subsequent Supreme Novices' Hurdle fourth Paloma Blue was beaten at 4-11 and there could be more Cheltenham clues this time around as Alighted leads a two-pronged attack from the Joseph O'Brien stable.
Alighted won what is always a traditionally hot Leopardstown bumper last Christmas and his trainer had very positive things to say about him in a recent Racing Post stable tour.
Watch Alighted's bumper victory at Leopardstown last season
"He's not the easiest horse to train but he's got a very big engine. I was surprised that he was good enough to win on debut at Leopardstown because of how green he was, but he had been working well before the race. We're looking forward to sending him over hurdles," O'Brien said.
Alighted is one of three representatives from Gigginstown House Stud and perhaps his biggest threat could come from Daly Tiger, who was an impressive winner of a Thurles bumper last season before chasing home Real Steel in a maiden hurdle at the same venue.
Look back on the best jumps action of the year in the new edition of the Racing Post Annual. Order now at racingpost.com/shop or call 01933 304858
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