Noble Gift back for more as handicappers eye valuable prize

1.20 Leicester
Sir Gordon Richards Handicap (Class 2) | 1m3¾f | 3yo+ | RUK

What would have been a season-ending contest not so long ago is now something of a crossroads. Many of these high-class handicappers will be put away for the winter after taking part in this £30,000 handicap, but others will take in at least a few all-weather races once the turf season ends.

The key for punters is striking the balance. Fit, but not over the top is the order of the autumn, with the added ability to handle cut in the ground. One we can guarantee to be a match is Noble Gift, who won the race two years ago and arrives on the back of a short break.

Note also that Leicester generally tests stamina, which is bad news for Master The World (unraced beyond an extended ten furlongs) but good news for the likes of Rock Steady, nosed out over a mile and six furlongs at Wolverhampton just less than a year ago, since when he has raced only twice. Top Tug also won over that trip in May.

What they say

Roger Charlton, trainer of Rock Steady
He had a little injury, then we decided to let him have the summer turned out as he'd never had a break and he's not easy to place in those big turf handicaps with a mark of 99. He's a bit of an expert around Wolverhampton and Kempton, and there are two or three races with good prize-money for him before Christmas. He'll probably need this run.

William Knight, trainer of Noble Gift
He won the race a couple of years ago so we know he likes Leicester, stays the trip and he'll get his ground, so those are the positives. He's been running mostly over a mile and a quarter as it tends to suit his running style, but he does get a mile and a half. His form has tailed off a bit and this will be his last run before we put him away for the year.

Sylvester Kirk, trainer of Gawdawpalin
He's been running well all year and we just went a bit too far with him over a mile and six at Salisbury last time. On his best form he'd have a chance and after this that will be it for him for this year.

Mark Usher, trainer of Marmajuke Bay
He's a few pounds out of the handicap the way it's framed, which is why we're claiming off him. I've used Nicola [Currie] quite a lot. She's gaining experience all the time and certainly at the 7lb level she's excellent value. Trip and ground will be ideal for him and there are a few ifs and buts about the others, so if we run to the top of our game there's some nice prize-money he could grab.

Back on track

A lot has changed since Chatez was last seen on a racecourse, when he swept to the Spring Mile at Doncaster 947 days ago in March 2015.

Now rising seven, he makes his return in the £20,000 mile handicap at Leicester (1.55) less than 24 hours after Smad Place carried the same silks to success in the Old Roan Chase.

The market might well give a clue as to what is expected of Chatez, who is just 1lb higher than for his three-length win at Doncaster.

However, given he is returning so late in the season and had been hurdling as a juvenile in 2014-15, it might be wise to expect him to go back down that route after this race.

Johnston to honour former servant

Mark Johnston is not a man readily associated with sentimentality, but it would be no surprise at all if he has taken deliberate aim at the Double Trigger Novice Stakes (1.05) at Redcar, named after one of his yard's most famous early flag-bearers.

Double Trigger (green): a great servant for Mark JohnstonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Johnston is responsible for two of the seven runners in the field. Sea Youmzain scores quite highly on sentiment herself for owner Jaber Abdullah, who has named her in part after his most famous horse, and she made a promising debut on softish ground at Leicester in the middle of the month.

Lucky Deal is Johnston's other runner, a debutant. He's from the family of Alexandrova and is probably one for middle distances next year, so it is no surprise to see him start out this late.

The one to measure them against is probably I'm Improving, third on both starts so far for Keith Dalgleish.

Plaza still has room to improve

Royal Plaza was only just touched off on his debut for the Olly Murphy yard at Huntingdon this month and may have more in his favour on the second time of asking in the novice handicap chase at Ayr (2.40).

The long straight and generally more galloping nature of the track should suit the six-year-old, who is related to several smart jumpers who have all stayed at least two and a half miles and many become stayers.

He stayed on gradually last time and, with the benefit of a run behind him and Richard Johnson in the saddle, he should be able to go forward.

As with many similar events, potential abounds among his opposition. Point winner Star Tackle switches to both fences and handicaps, Socksy was a progressive hurdler and boasts an impressive pedigree, while Well Above Par gets something more like the distance his breeding demands.

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