The second day of the three-day Brighton Festival of Racing occurs on Thursday and there is a competitive six-race fixture to enjoy.
The headline race on the card is the 1m4f Class 4 Star Sports Brighton Challenge Cup Handicap (For The Brighton Challenge Cup) (4:00) and Charlie Johnston's Alumnus is an interesting contender for the North. The three-year-old colt has been revitalised by the application of a visor and was only beaten a short head over 1m4½f at Newcastle on the all-weather two starts back. He followed up with a fifth at Goodwood over 1m3f, becoming outpaced from three furlongs out and lacking the speed to make up ground. The return to a longer distance is undoubtedly a positive for the son of Kendargent and the yard appear to be hitting form again, with a winner on both Monday and Tuesday.
WIN: ALUMNUS
The application of first-time cheekpieces on Golden Passport in the 7f Class 4 Star Insurance Apprentice Handicap (2:25) could eke out enough improvement to secure a second career victory. The gelding was a juvenile winner at Wolverhampton and has only run twice, albeit out of the placings, on turf. His turf form is probably a little misleading – the colt shaped like one to follow on his debut performance at Salisbury and faced tougher competition when sixth of thirteen at Newmarket in May. Ed Walker's yard are in great form with a strike rate of 28% from the last fourteen days (9-32) and he is a solid option in a competitive field.
WIN: GOLDEN PASSPORT
Although likely favourite Loaded Quiver may be hard to overturn in the 7f Class 5 Star Community Housing Restricted Maiden Stakes (3:00), Eve Johnson Houghton's Compton Bay could be interesting at the prices. He was fourth on debut at Epsom Downs in a six-runner field but did little wrong and just weakened inside the final furlong in the manner of a colt who would improve. The son of New Bay wears a hood for the first time and is entitled to come forward from his debut performance.
WIN: COMPTON BAY
Temur Khan returns to his favoured track in the 1m4f Class 6 Nevaeh Mai Brown Classified Stakes (3:30) with three pound claimer Mollie Phillips aboard. A three-time course and distance winner, the eight-year-old remains in good form for trainer Tony Carroll, finishing third at Bath at long odds when last seen at the start of July. He scored twice at the Brighton meeting last year and a return to these conditions could see the gelding to best effect.
WIN: TEMUR KHAN
Trainer Tony Carroll is sending some well-fancied horses to Brighton and Madrinho would be one to follow in the 7f Class 6 Star Construction And Maintenance Classified Stakes (4:30). He has a good record over course and distance and shaped better than the winning margin suggested when beaten two-and-a-half lengths into second over a mile at the track last time, having been bumped at the start.
Meanwhile, Carroll is double-handed in the 1m Class 6 Alfriston Gardens Classic Handicap with Fieldsman capable of taking advantage of the three pound claim provided by Mollie Phillips. He finished second over course and distance two starts ago and could be interesting if allowed to dictate the pace.
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – GOLDEN PASSPORT
RACE 2 – COMPTON BAY
RACE 3 – TEMUR KHAN
RACE 4 – ALUMNUS
RACE 5 – MADRINHO
RACE 6 – FIELDSMAN
