Cortachy Castle to defy top weight

Cortachy Castle can defy top weight in today's £12,250 Pobjoy Mint Rated Handicap at Sandown, one of four races live on Channel…

Cortachy Castle can defy top weight in today's £12,250 Pobjoy Mint Rated Handicap at Sandown, one of four races live on Channel 4. Brian Meehan's three-year-old has a touch of class.

A fine second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot as a juvenile, he showed he had trained on when a short head second to Midnight Escape in a Kempton Listed race in May.

And he went one better in a conditions race over today's course and distance, beating Taoiste by two lengths.

On his latest start at Deauville he failed to fire but he had to be re-shod before the race and then faced a long walk to the track.

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This is a tight little sprint but Cortachy Castle has the credentials to go close.

Alkateb can come in from the cold in the William Hill Stakes Handicap. Gay Kelleway's six-year-old won a handicap at the same course in 1995 but raced only once the following year when third to Proper Blue at Ascot in October.

The six-year-old has had leg problems but came back this summer and ran well at Newmarket last month when one and a quarter lengths third of eight to Bold Faith.

And on his latest start at Ascot Alkateb put up a fine performance to finish third again, beaten by the same distance, behind Song of Freedom in a hot handicap.

Kelleway's horses are running well and Alkateb should be spot on for this, at a course that clearly suits him. He is on a fair mark and can defy top weight.

Fantastic Light can confirm the promise of his debut by winning the Sun Conditions Stakes.

Michael Stoute's colt did well to overturn highly-regarded previous winner Sicnee over seven furlongs at this course, staying on strongly in the closing stages to win by one and three quarter lengths.

Fantastic Light has plenty of scope and ought to appreciate the step up to a mile.

Veteran Yorkshire trainer Jack Hanson rarely ventures south these days so his The Woodcock catches the eye in the Mer Car Polish Classified Stakes at Lingfield's evening meeting.

The three-year-old was in and out of form earlier in the season but returned after a 10-week break in style at Nottingham, holding on well to beat Glowing by a neck.

Race conditions today favour The Woodcock, who should progress now he has found the winning thread.

There are possibilities about Sheltered Cove in the D'Arcy Handicap. A course winner, he has been slipping down the weights but hinted at a return to form at Windsor last time.

Thrust ran very well on his Haydock debut, going down by just a neck to the promising Kaibo after a slow start.

William Muir's two-year-old can strike gold in the £33,000 Weatherby's Dash under the floodlights at Wolverhampton.

Aidan O'Brien will be out to farm the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville tomorrow in a big way, as he is treble handed in the big juvenile prize with Hunan, Orpen and Coralita.