In-form Jack Doughty riding on Goodwood's all-apprentice card plus eyecatching two-year-old maiden worth a watch at Bath

Bangor: Griffin bids to end lengthy drought

County Dublin-based trainer Patrick Griffin bids to end a 277-day drought with Herja in the 2m½f maiden hurdle (1.40).

The yard had just three runners in Britain last season, and one of those was in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with seventh-placed finisher Roi Mage (the stable's last winner when scoring in France in September 2024). Griffin has not landed a British success since March 2023.

Herja was third at Newcastle in February and went one place better when runner-up at Ffos Las a month ago. 

Danny Gilligan travels over to take the ride, and will also partner Moonshine Girl for father Paul in the 2m7f mares' handicap hurdle (4.40).

Herja13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

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Jky: Danny Gilligan Tnr: Patrick Griffin

Bangor stat: handicap hurdle specialists

Joint-trainers Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith are 2-5 (40 per cent strike-rate) in handicap hurdles at the track in the last two seasons and run Hope Hill (3.30) and Heather Honey (4.40).

Bath: can Proof build on promising debut? 

A field of exciting two-year-olds line up in the 5½f maiden (6.20) worth £30,000, including a half-brother to 11-time winner Spoof.

Like Spoof, Proof has started his career with Charlie Hills in the colours of Gary and Linnet Woodward, and made a promising start when second at Salisbury last month.

Hills said: "He made a really nice debut and this looks a good spot. The trip should be fine and there is some good prize-money available. I'd say Richard Hannon's horse [Secret Santa] is the one to beat, but hopefully he'll run well. He's very much like his brother Spoof."

Secret Santa finished a close third in a good Newbury maiden last time, while Coyy filled the same spot at Windsor for Eve Johnson Houghton.

Proof18:20 Bath

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Jky: Jack Mitchell Tnr: Charles Hills

Bath stat: terrific record

Adrian Wintle is 2-4 with his runners in the mile handicap (8.40), and is represented by Soi Dao this time. 

Clonmel: Jigoro bids to end seconditis

Jigoro has run at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals since his last win in December 2023 and bids to gain a deserved victory in the 2m4f hurdle (6.10).

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was pulled up behind Langer Dan in the 2024 Coral Cup, but has posted four runner-up finishes from his last five starts over hurdles and fences.

His latest second came over fences at Limerick last month when beaten ten lengths by 8-11 shot Intellotto over this trip.

Jigoro18:10 Clonmel

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Jky: James Smith (5lb)Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Doncaster: Native Instinct bids to follow up for Bethell 

The 7f handicap (7.50) was the springboard for Mickley before he went on to win the Britannia at Royal Ascot last year, and Ed Bethell returns with Native Instinct.

The three-year-old signed off last season with a dominant victory in a Redcar novice, and the 100,000gns yearling has been allocated a mark of 82 for his first go in a handicap. 

That is just 1lb lower than the mark Mickley won off on his handicap debut 12 months ago.

Native Instinct19:50 Doncaster

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Jky: Kevin Stott Tnr: Edward Bethell

Fairyhouse: early Guineas clue for 2025?

Extravagant, priced up at 33-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas with Unibet, bids to get off the mark for Aidan O'Brien and Jack Cleary in the 7f maiden (4.15).

The son of Wootton Bassett was Ryan Moore's mount in a competitive Curragh maiden in April and shaped well when second to Green Sense, who has since been placed at Group 3 level.

Extravagant also boasts an impressive pedigree, being a half-brother to Group 1 winner Cloth Of Stars, who finished second and third behind Enable in two Arcs.

Extravagant16:15 Fairyhouse

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Jky: Jack Cleary (5lb)Tnr: A P O'Brien

Goodwood: six rides for Doughty on all-apprentice card

In-form jockey Jack Doughty heads to Goodwood for an eyecatching book of rides in each of the races on an all-apprentice six-race card.

Doughty, who rode out his claim at Brighton last month but who is still eligible to take part in apprentice races, partners the Tony Carroll-trained Kensington Agent in the 6f fillies' handicap (6.34). The six-year-old has finished in the first two in each of her last four starts with Doughty on board for two of those, including when a narrow winner at Bath last time.

The Carroll-trained Serenity Dream also has solid recent form heading into the mile handicap (7.44), while Doughty has just a second ride in the Kirsten Rausing silks on course winner Alerta Maxima in the mile fillies' novice (5.59).

The 17-year-old also partners last-time-out winner Port Erin in the 1m1f handicap (5.25), Emporess in the 7f handicap (7.09) and Isle Of Sark in the 1m4f handicap (8.19).

Kensington Agent18:34 Goodwood

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Jky: Jack Doughty Tnr: Tony Carroll

Thirsk: Harris breaks new ground with hat-trick seeking Over Spiced

Welsh trainer Grace Harris has her first runner at the North Yorkshire venue with Over Spiced, who will be attempting to complete a quickfire hat-trick in the 5f fillies' handicap (3.40).

The three-year-old won by half a length at Chepstow just over a fortnight ago, and followed that with a far better performance at Lingfield last week.

Over Spiced has been allocated a mark of 69 but gets to run off 2lb lower here, while Harris gives a first ride to Jason Hart, who has had 32 winners at the track.

Harris said: "The handicapper has murdered us so we've got no other option than to go again. We're 2lb well in and she's in good form, so hopefully she can run well.

"We don't go up north very often. It's a shame Ray Dawson can't ride, but Jason Hart is a great replacement, and she's pretty straightforward." 

Over Spiced15:40 Thirsk

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Jky: Jason Hart Tnr: Grace Harris

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