Fergal O'Brien eyes five-timer with progressive mare and veteran prepares for 100th appearance

Ffos Las: Steel seeks to nail five-timer

Queen Of Steel has compiled an excellent record under Fergal O'Brien, finishing sixth on her first outing for the trainer but winning all four starts since.

The former Mark Usher-trained mare goes for her fifth consecutive success in the 2m handicap (4.45) under Northumberland Plate-winning jockey Rob Hornby.

Queen Of Steel had gone winless in 26 starts before breaking her maiden at Ffos Las in a 2m4f handicap hurdle. She won again over hurdles at Wetherby, this time over three miles, before dropping to two miles and scoring on the Flat at Nottingham and Pontefract.

The five-year-old has been raised 4lb to a mark of 59, but she has been favourite for all four wins and looks sure to be popular again.

O'Brien said: "She's in good form and we're very happy with her. She's jumped up the weights since her first win, but it's a nice opportunity for her. She won at the track over hurdles and she'll like the ground, so fingers crossed she can go well."

Queen Of Steel16:45 Ffos Las

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Jky: Rob Hornby Tnr: Fergal O'Brien

Pontefract: In-form Sergeant has major chance

Sergeant Mayer bids to continue his good form on what will be his first run at the West Yorkshire track in the 5f handicap (4.00).

The Nigel Tinkler-trained four-year-old has not been out of the first three in his last nine races since September, winning a couple, finishing runner-up half a dozen times and third once.

He has been creeping up the handicap despite being second the last two times and runs off a career-high mark of 70. The topweight at least has the 5lb claim of his regular rider Alex Jary in his favour.

Tinkler said: "He's doing fine but he's gone up the weights quite a bit. He's very well in himself, but he wouldn't want the ground being too firm."

Sergeant Mayer16:00 Pontefract

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Jky: Alex Jary (5lb)Tnr: Nigel Tinkler

Windsor: Can Luna be another Portman star?

Trainer Jonathan Portman is having the best month of his career, with ten winners and 12 others finishing in the first four, and he’ll look to round June off in style with Hello Luna in the 5f handicap (5.45).

The three-year-old was purchased at the start of the year for 36,000gns, but interestingly commanded €220,000 both as a yearling and breeze-up performer. She had just the one run for former trainer Joseph O'Brien as a two-year-old, showing some promise in finishing third at Dundalk.

Since running for Portman for the first time in April, she has improved with each start and got off the mark over course and distance this month.

She is up 3lb but carries bottom weight of 8st 13lb, and has the assistance of Billy Loughnane for the first time.

Hello Luna17:45 Windsor

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Jky: Billy Loughnane Tnr: Jonathan Portman

Windsor stat: John and Thady Gosden maiden aim

Since their dual licence came into force, the trainers have a 38 per cent strike-rate here in three-year-old-plus maidens (6-16). They run Kaleido (6.45).

Kaleido18:45 Windsor

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Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Wolverhampton: Jenkins stalwart poised to join 100 club

Sir Rodneyredblood is set for his 100th run in the 5f handicap (8.30).

The eight-year-old has been owned by the Goddard family since bought as a yearling for £4,500 from Goffs UK in 2018, and all his 99 starts has been for Royston trainer John Jenkins, for whom he made his debut as a juvenile in June 2019.

The son of Roderic O’Connor, who is out of the Red Ransom mare Red Blooded Woman, has won 16 times and has predominantly plied his trade on the all-weather, with 15 wins from 83 runs on artificial surfaces.

He has yet to win in eight outings at Wolverhampton, but has twice come close in being beaten a short head and a neck.

Being dropped 2lb from his last-time-out fifth at Chelmsford should help him be competitive on his landmark appearance.

Wolverhampton stat: James Tate hopes to improve track strike-rate

The trainer has a 67 per cent (2-3) strike-rate here this year in handicaps and runs Desert Champion, Stanley Spencer (both 7.30), Hello Zaman and Noble Victory (both 8.00).