Nick Luck’s Blog: It’s G’daay to the Racing League

Once again we’re all over the Racing League this Wednesday night on the eve of the St Leger Festival, and I’m wielding the long handle in the opening leg at Southwell (5.45pm). There is precious little all-weather form to go on here, but my selection PARKER’S PIECE is fully effective on the surface and looks pretty well treated on that earlier season form behind useful stakes horses Zabriskie Point and Inishfallen. He ran in one of these last week, but looked to need today’s extra furlong. I’m a big fan of the rider, and am hopeful for a place at least. 12/1.

G’DAAY is another that looks tempting at 8/1 in the seven furlong race (6.15pm). He’s a cracking horse for one of his ability, invariably delivering something for connections. He’s just as good on this surface, and comes here off what wasn’t far off a career best at Epsom. He’s in the form of his life and, while the trainer is without a win for a couple of weeks, his horses have been running very well.

STAR ZINC is much riskier at 28/1, but there are grounds for taking a chance at a big price (6.45pm). He popped up here off just two pounds lower earlier in the season on his one and only Southwell start. Like on this occasion, he was drawn down the inside and seemed to love it. After a couple of rather dismal turf efforts on soft, he ran much better on his first run for Rebecca Menzies when not getting clear sailing, and could easily build on that for a rider who has really found his confidence of late.

ZAIN NIGHTS can give the prolific Saffie Osborne another League success at 11/2 in the staying event (7.45). He’s run really well both tries on the all-weather, including once for this rider over this trip in a League affair last year. His defeat of Aggaggio at Goodwood was boosted by another fine effort at that track from the runner-up last week, and he’s well within his comfort zone class-wise here.