Horse Racing: Handicap mark could prove lenient on Monsieur Jamie

Not disgraced when 100-1 for his racecourse introduction at Newmarket in August, the juvenile went on to fill the runner-up spot on his next two turf starts at Lingfield and Catterick respectively.

He had little trouble going one place better over this course and distance as he made every yard of the running, tactics which could well prove valuable again giving how slow the surface is.

The form looks strong enough, with the fourth home, Verus Decorus, winning here on Saturday, and an initial handicap mark of 67 for Monsieur Jamie could prove lenient.

Cape Vale put up a determined effort from the front when victorious at the weekend and is quickly turned out again for the SP+ For Bigger Wins At totesport.com Handicap.

The five-year-old is a fair talent on his day and ended a long lean spell with victory in a better race than this on Saturday.

It is not surprising wily trainer David Nicholls is running him again under a penalty before the handicapper is given a chance to have his say. He has the look of a good thing.

Hawaafez was a big eyecatcher when third on her debut and looks the one to be on in Lingfield's EBF toteswinger Flexi Betting Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

The daughter of Nayef looked in need of the experience on that first day out, as is typical of Marcus Tregoning's horses.

But she finished with real gusto to claim minor honours and while her future lies over middle distances, she looks capable of winning a minor event such as this over a mile.

Mr Willis saves his very best efforts for Lingfield and is on a reasonable mark for the totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap.

Five victories and a couple of placed efforts from 11 course appearances is a pretty encouraging statistic.

Although without a victory in over a year, he was second here a couple of starts back and was a little unlucky when fifth at Wolverhampton last time, having been left too much to do. He is 5lb higher than his highest winning rating, but that should not put off punters too much as he looks capable of scoring on his favoured surface.

Carrickboy bumped into a seriously smart horse on his fencing debut and should find life much easier in the Tiana Honey Watson Fund Beginners' Chase at Fontwell.

The six-year-old was rated as high as 132 over hurdles and ought to do well in this sphere this term judged on that initial effort.

Although ultimately no match for the hugely impressive Royal Charm, the six-year-old had the rest well beaten off.

A reproduction of that effort will see him go close in this.

"Nicholls is running him under a penalty before the handicapper has his say. He has the look of a good thing"