Appleby and Buick bid to boost superb Newmarket record, plus an all-Nicholls affair at Fontwell - punting pointers for Wednesday

Punting pointers from the day's meetings . . .

Fontwell: Oscars Moonshine returns in all-Nicholls affair

A father, mother and daughter from the Nicholls dynasty will all have involvement in Oscars Moonshine, who returns after almost a year off in the 2m3f handicap hurdle (3.40).

The nine-year-old has been a star for amateur jockey Olive Nicholls, winning three times including when last seen at Wincanton just under a year ago.

He has since moved from Paul to Georgina Nicholls, Olive's mum, but father Paul still owns the 131-rated hurdler. It means he will own one runner and train another, with Inca De Lafayette, a two-time winner over hurdles last season, also making his reappearance under Harry Cobden in the same curious contest.

Olive Nicholls has made a bright start to her career, both in the point-to-point ranks and under rules. She enjoyed six winners from 32 rides last term but is seeking a first winner of this season at Fontwell.

Oscars Moonshine15:40 Fontwell

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Jky: Miss Olive Nicholls (7lb)Tnr: Georgina Nicholls

Fontwell stat: one to watch

Robert Walford has a 36 per cent strike-rate with his runners in handicap chases at Fontwell and has a live chance of improving that record with Caeruleum (4.15).

Caeruleum16:15 Fontwell

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Jky: Harry Kimber Tnr: Robert Walford

Kempton: Charyn team unleash debut winner

Just a few days on from Charyn's dominant performance on Champions Day, the team behind the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner look to unleash another smart prospect in Qazaq.

The three-year-old was an easy winner in the Nurlan Bizakov silks on his racecourse debut at Chelmsford last December and the son of Kingman reappears in what looks a fairly moderate 7f novice stakes (6.10).

His form is hard to judge with the runner-up repeating his second-place finish on his next two starts, but the manner of the win suggests he should command respect.

He has been gelded since his debut success and as he cost 300,000gns as a yearling, connections will likely be disappointed if Qazaq cannot defy a 7lb penalty against three rivals who have been comfortably beaten in all of their starts, as well as Mark Usher and Amanda Perrett's newcomers — Shades Of May and Huntly Lodge.

Qazaq18:10 Kempton (A.W)

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Jky: Silvestre De Sousa Tnr: Roger Varian

Kempton stat: brilliant Burke

Keiran Burke is 5-10 with his handicap runners at Kempton – a £1 stake on each would have yielded a profit of £51.83. He saddles the in-form Whitcombe Rockstar in the mile handicap (7.40).

Whitcombe Rockstar19:40 Kempton (A.W)

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Jky: Josephine Gordon Tnr: Keiran Burke

Navan: same combination?

Willie McCreery and Billy Lee combined to win the 6f maiden (1.30) last year and the pair are represented in the opening juvenile contest with Asdana.

The daughter of Churchill has displayed some promising form in defeat in her three starts, including when finishing fourth behind January on her debut at Gowran in June.

January went on to chase home Desert Flower in the May Hill Stakes and in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, while the runner-up from Gowran – Va Va Vroom – has also won a 17-runner maiden since.

None of Asdana’s 18 rivals has more experience and McCreery has applied a visor to his runner for the first time.

A draw in stall 18 is not ideal, but it should not prevent Asdana from scoring if she produces the sort of performance stablemate Vassula Ryden managed when justifying 11-8 favouritism in this race 12 months ago.

Asdana13:30 Navan

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Jky: W J Lee Tnr: W McCreery

Newmarket: Appleby and Buick poised to dominate again

Charlie Appleby has a superb record on this Newmarket card in recent years and bids to enhance his strike-rate in the 7f novice (2.20) with Hidden Secret. The son of Dubawi has been gelded since finishing sixth behind stablemate and subsequent Group 2 Superlative Stakes winner Ancient Truth on his debut in June.

The juvenile will bid to be Appleby and William Buick's third successive winner of the race and a fourth since 2017 for the combination.

Appleby and Buick have also won the following 1m2f maiden (2.55) three times since 2017 and are represented by Arabian Poet, whose stablemate Tremorgio is the mount of James Doyle.

Watching Stars could record a third win in five years for Appleby and Buick in the 1m2f nursery (3.30) before Present Times bids to emulate dual Classic hero Hurricane Lane and Military Order by winning the mile novice (4.40).

Southwell: hat-trick bid

Fancy Stuff’s wins at Stratford and Bangor in May and June have helped trainer Tom Gretton match last season’s tally of four winners.

If the seven-year-old completes her hat-trick in Southwell’s 2m handicap chase (2.43), it will seal Gretton’s best campaign by winners since the 2019-20 season.

Sean Bowen, who rode the mare to victory on her last couple of starts, is at Fontwell, but Gretton has booked a top replacement in three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes.

“It’s been a wet October and it’s a sensible place to start given she likes that [good, good to firm in places] ground,” said Gretton. “It’s a big step up for her and she might need it.”

Gretton, who is operating at a career-best 16 per cent strike-rate this term, added: “The horses are running well. There’s a race for Fancy Stuff at Warwick in November, so she needs the run.”

Fancy Stuff14:43 Southwell

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Jky: Brian Hughes Tnr: Tom Gretton

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