Salisbury - Friday 21st August 2026
Darvel and jockey Frederick Tett won this last season and has to enter calculations off 1lb lower. Simon Walker has a good record in these type of events and he rides MARSH BENHAM, a winner last time out at Sandown and having only his third start of the year. Thiscouldbefun, Prince Rasam and Kimeko Glory are others to at least consider in an open event.
Chan Noir ran better than the bare form suggests when sixth at Newcastle and having already won at Nottingham, the return to turf could see him go close. SPIRIT OF LYRA showed plenty of improvement for her debut fourth when coming home over three lengths clear at Lingfield and is very much on an upward curve. Thanks Harry and Hello You Ten could be the ones to battle for third place.
Zen Diva won her first two starts this season including a C&D success in July, but she was below par when last in a better race at Goodwood and that is a concern. KOHANA NATION was the very easy winner of a four-runner Doncaster novice on his third start and a mark of 78 might underestimate Charlie Hills' colt. Bintola is the pick of the remainder.
VIOLET GOLDSMITH found only a progressive rival too strong at Chepstow before going one place better over the same C&D next time. The daughter of Oasis Dream should have what it takes to deal with a subsequent 3lb rise. That said, Footstepinthewoods appeared to score with a bit in hand at Windsor so must be respected on that basis, while Box Clever has already proven to be competitive at this level and she's still relatively unexposed over a mile.
Despite having to shoulder a 7lb penalty for her Wolverhampton debut success, this should be plain sailing for BINTWARD. Roger Varian's filly was an easy winner at Dunstall Park and while the main threat could come from Golden Island, the latter will need to find considerable improvement to topple the likely market leader. Herstmonceux was well held at Ffos Las and might be booked for third.
A DAUGHTERS LOVE could prove to be tough to beat. She bumped into a rival who completed a four-timer impressively next time when second at Ffos Las and looks capable of much better herself, especially over this staying trip. Moab hit the frame over timber at the Punchestown Festival in April and has to be respected back on the level following a break. Panthere Noir is noted too.
MARSH BENHAM has returned from his break in good form, finishing second at Brighton on reappearance before narrowly scoring at Sandown last time, and although 4lb higher, he takes to follow up here. Thiscouldbefun also arrives after a return to form when dropped back to a mile and winning by a length over C&D last time, so can follow up from the same mark. Prince Rasam was beaten only by little more than a length when returning to a mile at Kempton and can have a say if building on that effort.
SPIRIT OF LYRA improved markedly from her debut when winning at Lingfield last time, doing so with plenty in hand. She remains open to further progress over this trip given the nature of that success and looks the one to beat. Chan Noir won at Nottingham on debut before finishing third in a stronger novice at Newcastle under a penalty, and can improve again. Thanks Harry made little impression over 7f on debut but shaped better when droppedd into a sprint, finishing runner-up at Hamilton and should also have more to offer over this trip.
KOHANA NATION took another step forward when dropping to 6f and winning by a commanding four length at Doncaster last time. A big colt, he remains unexposed at this trip and can follow up on handicap debut. Zen Diva was highly progressive over this trip before a disappointing run in much stronger company last time and is now 1lb lower and back down in class, so she can bounce back for the Ralph Beckett yard. Coyy had also been going well before a below-par effort in tougher company over the minimal trip at Goodwood last time, but a 3lb drop and return to 6f give him a chance to get back on track.
FOOTSTEPINTHEWOODS got off the mark when landing a handicap at Windsor by over a length last time, and although 3lb higher, he remains on a fair mark and should be capable of another bold showing. Violet Goldsmith has progressed well since going handicapping over a mile, opening her account at Chepstow having knocked on the door at the same track the run prior, and can go well again despite a 3lb rise. Box Clever took a step back in the right direction when beaten only a length at Windsor last time and remains competitively weighted, so can also have a say.
BINTWARD looks very hard to oppose on the balance of form, having made an impressive winning debut at Wolverhampton when showing plenty of ability and knowing her job well. She scored by over two lengths and, with further improvement likely over this trip and beyond, looks capable of maintaining her unbeaten record for the in-form Roger Varian yard in what is a relatively weak contest. Golden Island was well beaten on debut but is bred for middle distances and can be expected to improve for that experience, while Herstmonceux was very green when tailed off at Ffos Las and needs to leave that effort well behind.
A DAUGHTERS LOVE has been in very good form, bolting up by ten lengths at Ffos Las before going down by only three parts of a length from 4lb lower at his latest start. She remains unexposed over staying trips and should appreciate this further step up in distance, so can go well again. Basilette returns to the Flat after a solid spell over hurdles and is respected having won by 5l at Bath earlier in the season, while Moab arrives in generally good form across both codes and can also have a say returning from a break.
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