London – Rosarno snapped a near 12-month barren spell with a win at Nottingham at the start of October and he can follow up back at that track today.
Charlie Hills’ runner had fallen a little way down the ratings having been out of luck for such a lengthy spell, with a few attempts at middle distance failing to bring out the best in him.
However, dropped back to an extended 1600m and with a bit of cut in the ground at Colwick Park, Rosarno made the most of a less than ideal passage to eke out a neck victory.
The handicapper has been limited to a 1kg rise and that may not be enough to stop a Rosarno double in the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Handicap.
The EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden Stakes honours John Gosden’s superstar and the Newmarket handler has a likely winner of the second division of the race in Petit Palais.
A Champs Elysees half-brother to 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, Petit Palais certainly has the right kind of pedigree to be making his mark at a better level next term.
The suggested best bets for the Nottingham meeting are: 1230 Tamkeen, 1.00 Petit Palais, 1.30 Rosarno, 2.00 Rydan, 2.30 Lydiate Lady, 3.00 World Record, 3.30 Hitchcock, 4.00 Royal Cosmic.
Mercian King threw in a rare bad run on his penultimate start but righted the ship last time and can go on again at Fakenham.
That seventh place at Stratford represented the only occasion Mercian King had finished out of the first three in nine starts for Amy Murphy.
– Press Association
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