James Rogers is on the afternoon 'Shift' at Southwell. Any apprentice, able to ride like this teenager, is certain to catch my eye, which is trained on jockeyship, 100 percent. His full 7-pound allowance on Phase Shift should weigh heavily against three rivals in the Maiden Stakes over a mile of fibresand. Only eight days ago, James rode Phase Shift in a similar race on Kempton polytrack, getting a real tune out of William Muir's charge, which finished third, beaten less than two lengths.
It's been a forgettable year for Muir but ironically, his yard is now firing. Pippa's Gift scored two days ago, under a tremendous Hayley Turner ride, and Phase Shift is knocking on the door. I'll bet it opens and proves fifth time lucky. Rogers is also booked for Takajan in the Claiming Stakes over six furlongs. Once again, that allowance brings this improving three-year-old into the mix but Punching and Abbodfanza, not to mention hat-trick-seeking Ebraam, will be difficult to beat. Preference is for course and distance winner Punching, mount of Hayley, who will have been buoyed by that recent success, following a fallow spell.
Punching looks nailed on for one of three places which means, price-wise, Colin Dore's charge represents a solid each-way bet. Good race and so is the five-runner nursery over five furlongs which looks well within compass of Flash City, also a course and distance scorer, earlier this month. Flash City attempted a course and distance repeat three days later but, despite improving considerably under another useful apprentice, Adam Carter, just failed to follow up. He'll take some beating, in what promises to be the best action of today. Later there's a ten-race all-weather 'Twilight' meeting at Wolverhampton.
SELECTIONS
RACE 2 (#7) PUNCHING (e.w.)
RACE 7 (#4) PHASE SHIFT
RACE 12 (#2) FLASH CITY (nap)
RACE 19 (#8) ZEAVOLA (e.w.)