Turf Talk: Lucky seventh outing predicted for Forecaster

The Royal runner is admittedly winless from six starts, but she has shown up reasonably well, to a certain extent, and can be backed with a bit of confidence here. Michael Bell’s three-year-old was well fancied on her last visit to the races but could not quite finish the job as she came home a close third in a nine-furlong fillies’ handicap at Musselburgh.

It was a similar story before that at Hamilton as she again demonstrated some potential, but had to make do with the bronze medal behind Wotabreeze.

Forecaster runs at Bath off the same mark as at Musselburgh, yet this race would not appear to be quite as strong- on paper at least.

Proven on fast ground and seemingly with enough stamina to see out this longer trip, the daughter of Fastnet Rock is a solid call.

A distinct lack of meat on the bone at Brighton, but Freight Train at least looks a prime cut for the John Smith’s Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy.

Mark Johnston’s four-year-old ran a screamer at Goodwood on Saturday when he attempted to make all of the running in a strong nine-furlong handicap for apprentice riders. The gelded son of Manduro nearly succeeded, too, but was forced to play second fiddle – albeit an ultra-determined one – to Illusive.

Freight Train is clearly in fine spirits, with this return to just shy of a mile of little consequence. A replication of his Goodwood run will see him home and hosed.

Johnston-Goodwood formlines could also reap handsome dividends at Pontefract when Stars Over The Sea competes in the tiesplanet.com – Ladies Love Guys In Ties Handicap.

The five-year-old gelding, owned by Roger Brookhouse, was another Middleham inmate to have shone on the Downs as he finished third to stablemate Fire Fighting in a hot mile-and-a-quarter handicap.

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

BATH: 2.00 Essaka, 2.30 Blue Suede, 3.00 Atalante, 3.30 FORECASTER (NAP), 4.00 Fast And Hot, 4.30 Mystique Heights, 5.00 R Bar Open.

BRIGHTON: 1.50 Miss Rosina, 2.20 Star Of The East, 2.50 Goal, 3.20 Freight Train (treble), 3.50 Volition, 4.20 Mystical Maze, 4.50 Tahiti One.

KEMPTON: 6.10 Gunner Moyne, 6.40 Dubara, 7.10 Ballet Concerto, 7.40 Fly, 8.10 Lovely Story, 8.40 Sam Missile, 9.10 Palenville.

PONTEFRACT: 2.10 Lean On Pete, 2.40 Peach Pavlova, 3.10 Taking Libertys, 3.40 Stars Over The Sea (next best), 4.10 Flash City, 4.40 Kiwi Bay, 5.10 Maureb.

YARMOUTH: 5.20 The Ducking Stool, 5.50 Iconic Belle, 6.20 Snappy Guest, 6.50 Aflame, 7.20 Captain Bob, 7.50 Cosmopolitan Girl, 8.20 Sacred Harp