HABOOBA (1.45, Nap) is fancied to make it third time lucky after two recent second places by landing the BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap at Lingfield on Wednesday.
The Terry Kent-trained colt finished runner-up, beaten one-and-a-quarter lengths by Agostino at Chelmsford in October then ran really well again to claim the silver medal on the Essex track last month.
After swerving to the right at the start, he had to race wide early on before taking the lead inside the final furlong. But those early exertions took their toll and he has headed near the line by Ultramarine.
My selection looks well treated on the weights at Lingfield and, with a decent start, looks the one to beat over the six-furlong trip under David Egan.
At Kempton, first-time cheekpieces and a longer trip could make all the difference to CLASSIC ENCOUNTER (5.30, NB).
The two-year-old was sixth on debut at Kempton, then last time out was runner-up in a maiden at Newmarket over a mile.
Having made steady progress, he went second inside the final furlong in the hands of Ryan Moore but could not reach the winner, Hand Of God.
On breeding, the son of Sharmardal should relish today's longer trip of a mile and a quarter, and should be thereabouts under Danny Tudhope in the Unibet More Boosts In More Races British EBF Maiden Stakes.
WEDNESDAY'S SELECTIONS
AYR
11.50 SPIT SPOT
12.25 FLASH DU PISTOLET
New Year resolutions you should make for 2023 based on your star sign1.00 I LOVE MY BAIE
1.35 SOFT RISK
2.10 ENEMY AT THE GATE
2.45 ARTIC ROW
3.20 MALICASH
KEMPTON
4.55 OCEAN HEIGHTS
5.30 CLASSIC ENCOUNTER (NB)
6.00 COMPTON BAY
6.30 BLESSED HONOUR
'My wife said she'd stop seeing fella at work but I keep catching them at it'7.00 TOP SECRET
7.30 PROBE
8.00 GLOBAL WARNING
8.30 FREETODREAM
LINGFIELD
11.30 WESTERN STARS
12.00 DASHING DARCEY
12.35 CLEAR STORM
1.10 MOONFIRE
1.45 HABOOBA (NAP)
2.20 SO CHIC
2.55 AVON LIGHT
3.30 SUNSET IN PARIS
LUDLOW
12.05 HAAS BOY
12.40 GABORIOT
1.15 VIRGINIA LODGE
1.50 GABRIEL'S GETAWAY
2.25 BETWEEN WATERS
3.00 JOBESGREEN LAD
3.35 GO TO WAR
NEWBURY
12.15 TORNEO
12.50 PYROTECHNIC
1.25 THEATRE MAN
2.00 PINK LEGEND
2.35 EAST INDIA EXPRESS
3.10 HECOULDBETHEONE
3.45 FLIGHTTOTHESTARS
NEWSBOY'S DOUBLE: HABOOBA and CLASSIC ENCOUNTER