JOHN QUINN may have been out of luck with his two runners in Saturday’s Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket, but the North Yorkshire trainer heads to Sedgefield today with good prospects of saddling a winner for the successful owner, Terry Warner.

The well-known yellow and black silks of Warner were carried to victory by Big Easy, trained by Phillip Hobbs, in the big marathon at HQ, in which Quinn’s two runners, Swnymor and Moidore both finished unplaced.

This afternoon, Quinn saddles the Warner-owned L’Aigle Royal in the Betfred Racing Juvenile which opens the Sedgefield card. It will be the gelding’s first outing for the Norton handler since coming from France in the summer after being trained by Guillaume Macaire.

The winner of one of his four starts over hurdles across the channel, L’Aigle Royal looks a smart-looking recruit to the Quinn stable.

Significantly, James Reveley, who won on him in France, takes the mount this afternoon. With the edge on experience over his rivals, L’Aigle Royal is napped to make a successful British debut.

Tim Easterby could also figure among the winners with Monita Bonita in the Betfred TV Handicap Hurdle.

Although disqualified and placed last after finishing unplaced, but losing her weight cloth at Perth last time out, Monita Bonita had previously won at Cartmel in July.

She looks the type to continue to pay her way for Easterby, who secured a Listed prize at York on Saturday when the useful Mattmu won the Rockingham Stakes under David Allan. Tom Scudamore, successful on Monita Bonita at Cartmel, has the ride again today.

Middleham trainer Ben Haslam must have a real soft spot for Operateur, who has proved such a wonderful money-spinner this year. Not only did he win four Flat races in the month of June, Operateur has since scored handsomely over hurdles at Uttoxeter three weeks ago.

The handicapper has not shown him any mercy for that victory and has raised his rating by a hefty 11lb. The six-year-old does look an improved horse now, however, and it could well be that he can land yet another win in the Betfred Mobile Sports Handicap Hurdle.

Also worth noting at Sedgefield are the in-form and consistent Solway Dornal (3.10) and Safe Investment (5.20), who shaped well at Fontwell last time out.

On the Flat at Windsor, Richard Fahey saddles both Withernsea and Polski Max in the £9,000 Ladbrokes Handicap.

Both Malton horses have solid claims, but marginal preference is for Withernsea, the mount of Paul Hanagan.

A good second at Newbury on his penultimate outing, the three-year-old was far from disgraced at Chester last time when finishing sixth of the 15 runners after failing to get the run of the race and being forced to race wider than ideal.

In the opening Ladbrokes British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes, it may be worth giving Pressure the chance to put his undistinguished debut effort behind him.

Trained by Clive Cox, the son of Equiano finished last of five at Ascot 11 weeks ago, but that was not at all a poor contest and he was not beaten too far. A much better display is anticipated this time around.

Golden Emerald (3.00), who has shown a decent level of ability in his two starts, is fancied to make it third-time-lucky wearing a first-time hood.

 

Selections

Windsor today
2.00 Pressure, 2.30 Percy Veer, 3.00 Golden Emerald, 3.35 Geordan Murphy, 4.10 Withernsea, 4.40 Cornish Path, 5.10 All Talk N No Do, 5.40 Westerly.

Sedgefield today
2.10 L’Aigle Royal (NAP), 2.40 Skyfire, 3.10 Solway Dornal, 3.45 Monita Bonita, 4.20 Dealing River, 4.50 Operateur, 5.20 Safe Investment.

Today’s other meeting
Sedgefield.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Huntingdon, Leicester, Newcastle and Wolverhampton.