Turf Talk - Mia Mento set to clean up at Bath

She has shown plenty of promise in three starts since arriving at Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Newmarket yard, yet has found trouble in running too and not helped herself with two tardy starts. That was the case again at Newmarket most recently when she was nonetheless beaten less than two lengths after finding her stride too late.

With that shared experience behind them, she and Andrea Atzeni ought to know more about each other – and there is no doubt Mia Mento is up to winning in this decent grade. It is frustrating that she has failed to add to her debut Leopardstown victory in 10 subsequent starts, but she has plenty of encouraging form in the book in both Britain and Ireland. Atzeni fits the bill as the right partner to get her into a prominent position and, if so, she should take some stopping this time.

In the opening Eston Handicap, Spurofthemoment catches the eye.

Charlie Hills’ filly has been running consistently well – and, although unable to follow up under a penalty at Wolverhampton last time, she failed by only a nose when headed right on the post over a furlong further than this.

The return to the minimum trip looks a sensible move, and she could well be in business again.

Atzeni is among the riders who have finished second on Rideson - who has so far achieved that feat on six out of her seven racecourse appearances to date.

Roger Varian’s filly was third on her other attempt, and has been a beaten favourite six times.

A race record like that provides plenty of incentive to take her on again in the Karen Howell Maiden Stakes – and Sun Tide is the obvious alternative.

She too was second, on her only start to date, over this trip at Kempton last month - getting the message slowly there but running on well enough to suggest she should be winning soon for Ralph Beckett.

Ripon and Ayr hold evening cards, and there are interesting contenders at both tracks.

Sudona provided David O’Meara with his 1000th career winner at Pontefract last Tuesday, and she switches from West to North Yorkshire in search of a follow-up success under a penalty in the Ure Bank Fillies’ Handicap.

She was comfortably on top at the end of 10 furlongs last time, and a second success in the space of seven days is far from out of the question over a mile and a half here.

Earlier on the Ripon card, Herbert Pocket can bag the Sharow Handicap.

Tim Easterby’s gelding outran his odds despite rearing in the stalls in first-time cheek-pieces at Thirsk last time.

On the basis he reproduces his best from that performance, rather than the worst, he has good prospects off the same mark.

At Ayr, House Deposit may prove an appropriate winner of the Stair Handicap after staying on strongly over this trip in second at Catterick at the start of the month.

Declan Carroll’s gelding has been put up a further 2lb but is still racing well below the rating he had this time last year.

Southwell stages its second jumps fixture of the new season, and Thibault can get the punters off to a flyer in the Visit signsolutions.org for Racecourse Branding Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Trainer Kim Bailey’s few runners since the restart have performed well - and Thibault, who came up against some classy opponents at times over hurdles, may well prove a better chaser.

It will therefore be no surprise to see the lightly-raced seven-year-old strike on his fencing debut.

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

AYR: 4.40 Fast Moon, 5.15 House Deposit, 5.50 Prompting, 6.20 Cuban Affair, 6.50 Abate, 7.25 Haskayne, 8.00 John Jasper, 8.30 Champagne Terri.

BATH: 12.00 Spurofthemoment, 12.30 Bright Armor, 1.05 Cappananty Con, 1.35 MIA MENTO (NAP), 2.05 Sun Tide, 2.35 Fivehundredmiles, 3.10 Willy Nilly, 3.40 Aquascape, 4.10 Arthalot.

RIPON: 4.25 Miss Milby, 5.00 Aghast, 5.30 Lady Danger, 6.05 Harry’s Ridge, 6.35 Herbert Pocket, 7.05 Maykir, 7.40 Seven For A Pound, 8.15 Sudona (treble), 8.45 Brodick.

SOUTHWELL: 12.15 Thibault (next best), 12.45 Blue N Yellow, 1.20 Knockrobin, 1.50 Coole Lion, 2.20 Medalla De Oro, 2.55 Ryhthm Is A Dancer, 3.25 Makety, 4.00 Emily Webb, 4.30 Major Snugfit, 5.05 Hypnos.

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