Landmark ride for Poppy Scott and Pied Piper out to lead rivals a merry dance - punting pointers for Tuesday's action

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

Leicester: Scott aims to strike on first ride as apprentice

Leicester’s opener (2.28) represents a big moment for Poppy Scott, who has her first ride as an apprentice.

The 20-year-old jockey rode two winners from 21 rides as an amateur, with one of those successes coming for Sir Mark Prescott, who saddles Orbital in the 1m2f apprentice handicap.

Scott, whose elder brother Luke rides over jumps and is based with Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, emulated her father by partnering a winner for Prescott when successful on Trooper Bisdee at Ffos Las in August last year.

Scott had ridden out regularly at Heath House during the school holidays before permanently relocating to Newmarket and she has been rewarded with a ride in the prestigious red, white and blue silks of Cheveley Park Stud for her first mount at the East Midlands venue.

All but one of Orbital’s 11 starts have been on the all-weather, but the three-year-old has won twice already this season under Fred Daly and Luke Morris.

Orbital14:28 Leicester

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Jky: Poppy Scott (5lb)Tnr: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Market Rasen: key stat

David Bass has ridden two winners from six rides for Charlie Longsdon this season and has a chance of improving that 33 per cent strike-rate on the trainer's Washpool in Market Rasen's opener (2.05).

Washpool14:05 Market Rasen

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Jky: David Bass Tnr: Charlie Longsdon

Market Rasen: back-to-back Bannister?

Bannister provided trainer Nick Kent with his first winner of the season at Market Rasen last month and the seven-year-old returns to the same track for the 2m½f handicap hurdle (3.05).

A 5lb rise may not prevent him from following up as he beat one of his rivals here, Pillar Of Steel, off a 3lb higher mark at Worcester in August 2022. However, Bannister now meets Pillar Of Steel on 3lb worse terms than when he finished fourth behind that Henry Oliver-trained nine-year-old at this venue on his seasonal debut in July.

Bannister, like the majority of Kent's 22 runners so far this season, runs in the colours of the Crossed Fingers Partnership. On the chances of doubling his tally this term, Kent, who trains 15 miles from Market Rasen at Brigg, said: "He's got every chance. I was very pleased with how he stayed the trip last time and having won over this trip before, it was a bit of a no-brainer really. 

"The way he came out of his last race, he's still capable of winning off this mark. He's in good health and it's a good opportunity for him."

Bannister15:05 Market Rasen

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Jky: Charlie Hammond Tnr: Nick Kent

Newcastle: excellent Eaves

A £1 stake on all 115 of Tom Eaves’s rides at Newcastle this season would have yielded a profit of £59.04. A 17th winner at the track for Eaves in 2024 would help Kevin Ryan become the outright leading trainer at the course this term.

Ryan has sent out 14 winners at Newcastle this campaign, the same as Jim Goldie, and Eaves’s first mount Shaladar is the trainer’s sole representative on the card.

The five-year-old is topweight in the first division of the mile handicap (7.00) and has made the frame on his last four starts. The gelding is rated 2lb lower than his last winning mark, albeit that came in September 2022 on the turf. However, he has finished second on seven occasions since and this combination has to be respected at this track.

Eaves also rides Ann Duffield’s Front Gunner in the 7f handicap (8.30).

Shaladar19:00 Newcastle (A.W)

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Jky: Tom Eaves Tnr: Kevin Ryan

Punchestown: Pied Piper back over hurdles

Punchestown's 2m2½f hurdle (3.20) features a select but decent quality field, headlined by Pied Piper. The smart dual-purpose performer has run on the Flat at Royal Ascot and the Galway festival since finishing third off top weight in the County Hurdle.

The six-year-old is set for his first start over hurdles since last season's Cheltenham Festival in a race his trainer Gordon Elliott won in 2019 with Coko Beach, and last year with Zanahiyr. 

Pied Piper finished second in the Cesarewitch this time last year, but Elliott has opted to get him back over jumps at an earlier stage this campaign, at a track where he beat subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban in 2021.

He receives 4lb from Eagle Fang, who won a novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival in May, despite being 25lb clear of that four-year old on ratings. Dual Grade 2 winner Aspire Tower and last year's Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle runner-up Byker complete the four-runner line-up.

Pied Piper15:20 Punchestown

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Jky: Jack Kennedy Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Yarmouth: key stat

William Haggas has won Yarmouth's opening 6f novice (2.15) three times in the last six years, including with the Shadwell-owned Aldaary (2020) and Tafreej (2022), and he could improve that 50 per cent recent strike-rate with either Almeraq or Al Samed for the same ownership.

Almeraq14:15 Yarmouth

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Jky: Jim Crowley Tnr: William Haggas

Al Samed14:15 Yarmouth

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Jky: Tom Marquand Tnr: William Haggas

Yarmouth: course specialist aims to follow up

Afloat bids to maintain her superb record at Yarmouth in the 1m3½f handicap (4.15), eight days on from recording her third victory at the track.

The four-year-old has to concede upwards of 6lb to her eight rivals as a result of the 5lb penalty incurred for her latest success over course and distance.

Her only defeat at the Norfolk venue came when beaten a short neck on her penultimate start. Rae Guest has booked Rossa Ryan after Callum Shepherd, who has ridden the filly on her last two starts, was ruled out for the season from injuries sustained in a fall at Kempton last Wednesday.

Guest said: "She loves Yarmouth and is in this class for probably the last time. She's got a lot of weight but she won with 10st 2lb last time, so I don't think that will stop her. She's in great form and she likes the ground, so we expect a big run." 

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