Champion Bumper and Challow runner makes Flat debut - plus other punting pointers for Saturday's action

Punting pointers from some of Saturday's race meetings . . .

Chester: course specialist returns

Radio Goo Goo just loves the Roodee.

The David Evans-trained four-year-old has enjoyed three wins from four runs at the track and has been handed a neat draw in stall two to embellish that record in the £30,000 sprint handicap (4.15). This will be her first attempt over five furlongs at the course.

She has enjoyed an excellent season, largely running consistently and recording wins here and at Ripon. A slightly less impressive effort at Kempton last time means she is now back down to the mark off which she scored here in June.

Her only non-win at the track came the start before, when a wide draw and a late bump did not help her claims. The veteran Copper Knight won that contest and, interestingly, the pair reoppose off exactly the same terms now.

Radio Goo Goo16:15 Chester

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Jky: J F Egan Tnr: David Evans

Gowran Park: teenage amateur out for another shock

Isabella Francis is a name to note on Gowran Park’s card as she boasts an unbeaten record before her first ride in Ireland in the 1m1½f apprentice handicap (5.10).

The 18-year-old’s sole previous mount was in November last year, when she steered 25-1 shot Pyrrhic Dancer to victory for Gary Brown at Wolverhampton.

Francis has been booked on Thefaithfulindian, who has been off the track even longer than her teenage rider.

The mare was last seen finishing second over hurdles at Ballinrobe in August 2023 on what was her final start for Aidan Anthony Howard. The nine-year-old is rated 13lb lower than her last win, which came in a 17-runner heavy-ground handicap at the Curragh under Chris Hayes in November 2020.

The going is perhaps quicker than ideal on her stable debut for James Barcoe, but her amateur rider has already demonstrated she can get an outsider home in front.

Thefaithfulindian17:10 Gowran Park

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Jky: Miss Isabella Francis (7lb)Tnr: James M Barcoe

Gowran Park: fabulous Foley

Putting £1 on all 47 of Shane Foley's rides at Gowran Park this season would have yielded a profit of £53.50. He has six chances of adding to his eight winners at the track this term, including Rahmi, who could provide the jockey with victory in back-to-back runnings of the closing 7f contest (5.40).

Rahmi17:40 Gowran Park

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Jky: Shane Foley Tnr: J P Murtagh

Navan: Joyeux Machin makes Flat debut

Joyeux Machin returns to the scene of his first career success for his first start on the Flat in the 1m6f maiden (4.55).

The seven-year-old justified 13-8 favouritism in a 15-runner bumper at Navan in January 2022, having chased home Facile Vega on his rules debut at Leopardstown on his previous outing.

Joyeux Machin: runs on the Flat for the first timeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The son of Saddler Maker was pulled up behind the same rival in the Champion Bumper later that season and has since won twice over hurdles and once over fences.

Joyeux Machin was well beaten in a match race on his most recent visit to Navan last December and trainer Paul Nolan has opted for a third different discipline at the track after that novice chase effort.

Nolan has saddled just one Flat winner from 73 runners since June 2016 though, and Joyeux Machin will likely need this first run since finishing seventh over hurdles at Wexford in May.

Joyeux Machin16:55 Navan

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Jky: Conor Stone-Walsh (5lb)Tnr: Paul Nolan

Newmarket: can Bisdee bounce back?

Luke Morris and Sir Mark Prescott combined to win the Turners Cesarewitch Trial Handicap (3.55) in 2019 with Land Of Oz and the pair are back for more with Trooper Bisdee.

The four-year-old won four of his five previous starts, including when making a successful reappearance under Morris at Nottingham in May, before finishing 12th in the Northumberland Plate when ridden by Hollie Doyle.

That Newcastle no-show was the third time the son of Australia has disappointed on the all-weather and reverting to turf for Newmarket’s feature 2m2f race should suit.

An 84-day break is a longer absence than any of Trooper Bisdee's rivals, which include 2022 winner Rajinsky.

Luke Morris: rides Trooper Bisdee in the Cesarewitch Trial Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Morris said: "He won at Pontefract extremely well and went off favourite for the Plate when things didn't really go his way. He's had a freshen up since then and seems in good form at home."

Trooper Bisdee15:55 Newmarket

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Jky: Luke Morris Tnr: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Wolverhampton: busy night for title chaser

Joe Leavy was not in action on Friday but his bid to close the gap on apprentice jockeys’ championship leader Sean Dylan Bowen resumes with six rides at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Leavy trails Bowen by five winners and that lead may have grown if Bowen is successful with any of his seven rides at Chester.

Joe Leavy: making waves in the apprentice ranks

Joe Leavy: chasing the apprentice jockeys' titleCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Leavy's agent Phil Shea has been busy for his title-chasing client, who will partner last-time-out Lingfield winner Thoughtful Gift (6.30), Inspired Knowhow (8.00) and Kojin (8.30) for the first time.

The 19-year-old also gets on Miakoda in the 5f nursery (4.19) and Fihrayn in the 1m1½f handicap (7.30) for his boss Richard Hannon. The James Evans-trained Mintana is bound to go close again in the 7f handicap (7.00), having made the frame on her last four outings under Leavy, including when successful at Lingfield last month.

Wolverhampton: hot Houghton

Eve Johnson Houghton has made the frame with six of her 11 runners at Wolverhampton this season with three winners and three seconds. She could improve that 21 per cent winning strike-rate with newcomer Bust A Moon in the second division of the 7f maiden (5.55).