Nabucco (tipped at 5-2) romped home by six lengths in the mud at Salisbury yesterday to kick off the week in style. The same combination of John Gosden and William Buick can follow up on Thursday with Willow Beck in the 4.40 at Warwick.
This tough and consistent filly chalked up a hat-trick of wins but has been beaten in her last two starts. She must have been a good thing off a mark of 65 at Yarmouth in July when she began her winning sequence and tomorrow she races off an all-time high of 88. It may seem strange to be tipping a filly that has been beaten in her last two handicaps but her last run suggests that there could still be more to come.
She had to be niggled along to get to the front approaching the final furlong and looked for a long time as though she would hang on. She was eventually beaten into third by Phaenomena and Astonishing, beaten a length and a half. The runner-up came out and landed a mighty gamble at Newmarket last week, winning a Listed race by seven lengths! I had fancied Gosden’s Phiz for that race after her fine run behind The Lark at Doncaster but she was left trailing by Sir Michael Stoute’s filly.
Of course it can be dangerous to take the form too literally but there is every chance that Willow Beck was up against a couple of Group class fillies at Newmarket and she’s worth a bet at 4-1.
Buick has a good chance of landing the Nursery at 2.40 when he partners Outback Traveller* for Jeremy Noseda. A mark of 75 does not look prohibitive for the son of Bushranger after making all in his maiden at Lingfield. The runner-up has run respectably in maiden company since and the extra furlong should see further improvement.
The draw is a slight concern but he popped out quickly last time and Buick shouldn’t have too much difficulty getting him up behind the leaders early on. There has been plenty of rain around over the past few days but Warwick seems to have escaped most of it with the going reportedly still good to firm. That should suit both selections perfectly and hopefully young Buick can steer home a double.
Outback Traveller 2.40 (4-1 Bet365, BetVictor) *Non-Runner
Willow Beck 4.40 (4-1 Paddy Power)
