Sayifyouwill and Shoot To Kill out to continue Stephen Thorne's impressive start to training

Stephen Thorne's training career has got off to a blistering start with five successes from 42 runners and he saddles his first two winners against each other here where it could be worth chancing that Sayifyouwill can score again back in handicap company.

The seven-year-old clocked quite a strong time when landing a claimer at this track in November, defeating Comfort Line by a cosy four lengths. That form was reversed over 7f next time, which preceded a step back up to a mile on her latest start when she finished fourth behind Perfect Judgement.

She travelled like the winner until a furlong and a half from the line that day before her run flattened out a touch, so trying 7f again looks a good move despite the defeat on her penultimate start. If she comes back to the form of her claimer win in November she will be a tough nut to crack with Jack Cleary taking off 5lb.

Shoot To Kill got back in the winner's enclosure under a change of tactics last time which had to be employed due to a poor draw. A 4lb rise is fair and he is an obvious candidate, but his stablemate could prove the better value.

The Ado McGuinness-trained Current Option finished runner-up to stablemate Apache Outlaw last time with the pair pulling three and a half lengths clear. It was a fair effort as he was quite keen in the early stages despite Catch The Paddy setting a very strong gallop, but still found enough late on to push an in-form rival all the way.

He's undoubtedly knocking on the door once again and is still a pound below his last winning mark despite a 4lb rise for the last day.

Previously with McGuinness, Nikki Swango made an encouraging enough stable debut for John McConnell when beaten three and three-quarter lengths into eighth behind Shoot To Kill last month.

The four-year-old travelled quite well into the straight but failed to pick up to any threatening measure. However, she shaped as if she'd improve plenty and was dropped a generous 3lb for that effort. She went very close over course and distance off the same mark in November, when beaten a head by Finsceal Annie, and rates a big danger.

What they say

Stephen Thorne, trainer of Sayifyouwill and Shoot To Kill
Sayifyouwill would have a live chance and is fresh and well. It was a very strongly run mile the last day and we weren't sure whether she saw it out all that well, so this drop back in trip should suit. She's got a nice draw and Jack's claim will be a help. We had to drop in Shoot To Kill the last day from his draw, but we are wide again so we might have to do something similar. It brought out some improvement in him and he idled when he got to the front so I think there's a few pounds left in him.

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