Three runners to look out for tonight

Naas can rightly claim the best-quality racing on Wednesday, featuring Listed action, but at Leicester several of the races contain more intrigue than their grades would imply. Here are three of the more interesting turns.

Dark Confidant
5.45 Leicester

Donald McCain's younger daughter Ella made a successful debut in the saddle when partnering Dark Confidant to success for her father at Carlisle 12 days ago.

That was also the four-year-old's first run for McCain, having previously been with Richard Fahey. Since then, Ella's 100 per cent record has been broken but she will surely be looking forward to renewing her partnership with Dark Confidant.

For punters, the shorter trip of seven furlongs is the main sticking point, given it took a strong pace over a mile at Carlisle for Dark Confidant to win last time. Still, amateur races tend to be that bit more susceptible to a pace collapse.

Deinonychus
6.45 Leicester

All other things being equal, it would have been expected that Deinonychus would improve for Mick Appleby, as so many do for moving to his yard.

This six-year-old is yet to show the benefit and it might just be that whatever kept him off the track from November 2015 until April this year is holding him back. However, he has yet to run for Appleby at tonight's trip of 1m4f, over which both his wins have come, including one over course and distance.

There are other reasons to be positive. Firstly, he showed signs of life at Nottingham last time following six straight runs in which he had failed to beat a rival. There is also the booking of George Wood, one of the country's top claimers and in-form riders following five wins from just 24 rides in the last fortnight.

Indian Raj
7.50 Leicester

Indian Raj is not so much one to look out for as the central plank in an interesting little sprint maiden. If the impressions of his debut and his pedigree are what they seem he should justify cramped odds, but there are reasons to be sceptical. Firstly, he never fetched so much at auction as his breeding would demand, while the form of his debut at Windsor does not bear all that much scrutiny as it stands.

Others in this race it will be worth noting are Tawaafoq, who has moved from Richard Hannon to Mick Quinn, and debutante Tina Teaspoon, whose pedigree is almost as appealing as that of the favourite.