Robin’s Command looks to assert dominance at Perth

ROBIN’S Command puts his unbeaten Perth record on the line today as he contests the feature race on Food and Drink Day at the Scone track.

Daniel Tudhope embraces G Force after the pair won the Betfred Sprint Cup. Picture: Grossick Racing

Rose Dobbin’s in-form raider, who has won four of his six starts in 2014, faces five rivals in the £10,000 Sodexo Prestige Venues And Events Handicap Chase.

The Northumberland trainer said: “He’s in good form after a little break and we’re expecting another big run. He’s won two from two at Perth – both over this trip – and he’s only gone up 3lb for his last win.

“No doubt his good run will come to an end sooner or later but, hopefully, it won’t be on Monday! He’s a big horse and it has taken time for the penny to drop but he has been a revel-ation over fences.

“Obviously the track, trip and ground will be no problem and the handicapper has given him a chance. It’s good prize money and he is likely to have a break over the winter.”

Among those in opposition to Robin’s Command is Lucinda Russell’s top-weight Clondaw Knight, one of five runners for Scotland’s leading jumps trainer.

At Brighton, This Is The Day can enjoy her moment in the spotlight in the Lifestyle Motorgroup Handicap on a low-key card. The daughter of Footstepsinthesand hails from a classy family but has struggled to make her mark, failing to strike in six career outings so far.

However, that is not to say she is totally devoid of promise, with her one-and-a-quarter-length fifth behind Muteela last season reading quite well given that one has since gone on to Listed glory and Group Three placings.

This Is The Day is clearly not of that calibre but has made strides since a disappointing return at Yarmouth in June, finishing second over nine furlongs at Epsom before stepping up to ten furlongs at Brighton. She was just edged into third in a blanket finish, and a repeat of that kind of form could well be good enough.

Fiftyshadesofgrey was well beaten into third at Epsom but is starting to look well treated ahead of the Mayo Wynne Baxter Handicap.

A winner at Wolverhampton last September, George Baker’s charge held a rating of 87 that day but has failed to really sparkle in seven subsequent outings, sliding down the handicap with each defeat.

Lining up off a mark of 75 on the Surrey Downs, he was a seven-length third behind an improving winner who appeared to thrive on what was testing ground. The handicapper has eased Fiftyshadesofgrey another 1lb for that defeat and he could well be primed to strike now.

Shadow Rock made plenty of progress from a lacklustre debut to finish second at Newmarket and similar improvement should see him right in the shake-up for the EBF/Seagullstickets.com Maiden Stakes. Beaten two lengths by Tannaaf, the form looks pretty good and it would be no surprise to see Shadow Rock prevail.

In Saturday’s big race at Haydock, G Force lived up to his name as he powered home to give trainer David O’Meara and jockey Danny Tudhope their first domestic Group One success in the Betfred Sprint Cup.

The well-regarded three-year-old had not been blessed with luck when stepped up in grade, most notably when a close sixth to Sole Power in the Nunthorpe at York last month. But everything fell into place in this six-furlong showpiece as G Force (11-1) denied Gordon Lord Byron a place in history.

Tom Hogan’s star was trying to become the only other horse after Be Friendly in 1966 and ’67 to win the race for a second time and he looked likely to do that heading into the final furlong.

However, Tudhope produced G Force to lead in the dying strides, eventually prevailing by three-quarters of a length. Music Master was third, with favourite Sole Power fourth.