NIGHT HUNTER 5.12 Chelmsford at 4/5

CCR Ladies Day 26th August Novice Stakes (Class 5) 1m2f 

COMPOSITE RATINGS

Trainer Form: 3-17 for 18%          (10)*
National average: 21%               (10)
Course Strike Rate: 28%             (10)
RPR: 90                             (10)                            
Optimum Ground: Good/Standard       (10)
Distance: 1m2f                      (10)
Jockey: Pat Cosgrave                (10)
National Average: 13%               (10)
Course Strike Rate: 12%             (10)
Trainer & Jockey Combo: 25%         (10) 
Total:                             (100)

Danger: Artemisia Lomi Alt: Halic

Massive improvement expected

Night Hunter cost $700,000 as a yearling and he is closely related to some high-class performers in the US, including Grade 1 winner Wickedly Perfect. The son of Tapit displayed plenty of promise when finishing third on his debut at Leicester last month and he should be hard to beat with that experience now under his belt as we can expect massive improvement from this 4yo on his second run. Worth pointing out the first two at Leicester have both won easily next time out and the winner won a Class 4 by 7l at Newmarket, it looked a good race at the time and looks better now.

Trainer form

Saeed bin Suroor shows a current form figure 3% below his national average of 21% but his runners have been running up to form. Though just 3 wins from 17 another 6 have finished second including some at bigger prices, so over 50% have finished first or second! At the course the trainer excels and shows 66-237 for 28% and when Pat Cosgrave rides for him they combine with 40-158 for 25% in the UK, they have also combined with a stack of big race winners outside of the UK.

The Pacafi is his only runner today but we are interested in which one of three runs in the 4.45 Pontefract on Tuesday. At this course he records 29-108 for 27%.

Contenders

Artemisia Lomi receives a stone and is a very interesting newcomer being a half-sister to winners across the globe and looks the one to beat, Halic is one to consider. Either of these will have to record a RPR in the high 90s and we doubt that will happen. Halic will also need to overcome stall 9 first time up.

Timeform

NIGHT HUNTER has taken a while to reach the racecourse but he shaped well amidst greenness when third over 1m at Leicester last month and he sets the bar high here if, as expected. building on that run now stepped up in trip. Both Artemisia Lomi and Halic hail from leading yards and look the part on paper though, so are much respected. especially if the market talks in their favour.

Value

We are looking to secure prices close to 4/5 and bigger but if we have to the 8/11 looks just on the right side of value in this grade. Of course, we do not know why the Pacafi took so long to reach the track but the colt has been given a month to be readied after his eye catching debut.

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PACAFI RESULTS for 2021