EPICTETUS is the value play against favourite Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy (3.35) at Doncaster on Saturday.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained son of Kingman was no more than lukewarm in the betting for his debut at Newmarket in July – he went off at 11-1 in a field of 13 – but made the perfect start with a length-and-a-quarter success.
Epictetus then missed the rest of the summer with 92 days on the sidelines before making his return in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Headquarters two weeks ago.
Considering his absence, and his lack of experience, my selection – mother Thistle Bird scored at the highest level in the hands of Roger Charlton – ran a fine race to a neck finish second to the Charlie Appleby-saddled Silver Knott.
Frankie Dettori’s mount has plenty of as-yet untapped potential to draw upon and can give his stable a first victory in the final Group 1 test of the season.
THE HOLLOW GINGE is weighted to better his second of 12 months ago in the 888Sport Is Made To Play Handicap Chase (2.05) at Cheltenham.
Last October, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old and the trainer’s son Sam went under by a head to Definite Plan in this race.
The defeat triggered a downturn in The Hollow Ginge’s fortunes – on his next four starts he failed to finish twice and came home well beaten on the other two occasions – and my selection fell down the weights as a result.
Having competed from a British Horseracing Authority rating of 137 in 2021, The Hollow Ginge is 10lb lower on 127 today.
His record suggests the son of Oscar is at his best after a break, so he’s worth backing to make a winning return to the fray.
A return to fences should do the trick for DADS LAD in the 888Sport Handicap Chase (3.15).
The Willie Mullins-saddled seven-year-old was finding life tough over hurdles earlier in the year but has thrived for being sent over the larger obstacles.
Having scored at Limerick in July on his second start in his new discipline, Dads Lad captured a maiden on the Flat a week later before racking up the hat-trick in a handicap chase at Killarney in mid-August.
Brian Hayes’ mount wasn’t discredited when fifth in a valuable handicap hurdle at Listowel last month, and has more to offer now he’s back chasing.
Old foes KNIGHT SALUTE and Pied Piper re-engage in the Listed Masterson Holdings Hurdle (2.40), with preference for the Milton Harris runner.
The judge couldn’t separate the pair in the Anniversary 4-y-o Hurdle at Aintree last April, but the stewards awarded Knight Salute first prize outright after finding him to have been the victim of interference.
Paddy Brennan’s partner had been following an upward curve before his ninth in Cheltenham’s Triumph Hurdle – Pied Piper finished ahead in third – and there’s no reason to think he is done with yet.
After a staying-on fourth on his jumping comeback at Chepstow a fortnight ago, DIDTHEYLEAVEUOUTTO is of interest in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3.50).
That run came over an extended two miles and three furlongs, and going back up to three miles looks the right move.
At Newbury, it’s hard to see past HAMISH in the Group 3 Virgin Bet St Simon Stakes (2.25).
Successful at this level when lifting last season’s September Stakes at Kempton Park, the son of Motivator – who carries the colours of trainer William Harris’s son Brian – has twice defied a penalty in Group 3 contests this year.
The latter victory came via a cosy length-and-a-quarter margin in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot three weeks ago, and rain-softened ground in Royal Berkshire should not pose a problem.
The going was officially ‘soft’ when STRIKING STAR got his career off to the perfect start at Sandown Park last month, and more of the same is anticipated in the Group 3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill Stakes (1.50).
Aidan O’Brien saddles warm order Aesop’s Fables for the Listed Carlsberg Marstons Doncaster Stakes (3.00) but the favourite won’t find his stablemate HISPANIC a pushover.
The vertem.co.uk Handicap (4.10) looks open, but FAST RESPONSE got back to winning ways under these conditions at Nottingham last time out and looks set to give another good account.
Saturday tips
CHELTENHAM
1.30 SHEARER
2.05 THE HOLLOW GINGE (NAP)
2.40 KNIGHT SALUTE
3.15 DADS LAD
3.50 DIDTHEYLEAVEUOUTTO
4.25 MAHLER MISSION
5.00 STRONG LEADER
NEWBURY
1.15 THE BIG BOARD
1.50 STRIKING STAR (NB)
2.25 HAMISH
2.55 DANDELION TIME
3.30 SMALL OASIS
4.15 DUAL IDENTITY
4.50 PRIDE OF HAWRIDGE
DONCASTER
1.20 BEAUTIFUL SECRET
1.55 VECCHIO
2.30 SIR RUMI
3.00 HISPANIC
3.35 EPICTETUS
4.10 FAST RESPONSE
4.45 DEPUTY
KELSO
1.05 REDWOOD QUEEN
1.40 CALL ME HARRY
2.15 DOMANDLOUIS
2.48 RAPID FLIGHT
3.23 LES’S LEGACY
4.00 POINT HIM OUT
4.35 TRAVAIL D’ORFEVRE
5.10 BRANDY MCQUEEN
CHELMSFORD CITY
5.20 LEADENHALL
5.55 BOHEMIAN BREEZE
6.30 DOUBLE TIME
7.00 AL AMEEN
7.30 CAMPESE
8.00 PRIVILEGE
8.30 ALWAJD
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