With doubts hanging over the heads of every contender for the Great North Eastern Railway Doncaster Cup on the Town Moor today, now could be the time to go chasing rainbows with Candle Smile.
A useful four-year-old in 1996 when with Michael Stoute, he looked very much as if he would show his best over marathon distances such as this 18-furlong trip.
Second to Corradini at Doncaster, he followed that run with an absurdly easy six-length success in a decent handicap at Goodwood, before disappointing when possibly over the top in the Cesarewitch.
Since leaving Stoute's yard the four-year-old has raced only once since, finishing eighth at 50 to 1 in the Chester Cup for new handler George Barnett.
However, that position does not tell the full story as the horse was badly hampered when travelling well with just over a furlong to travel, returning to the stables with injuries that necessitated the horse being sent to Liverpool University Veterinary College for treatment.
"Candle Smile was going very well and I think he would have won," said Barnett afterwards.
He is obviously not the easiest horse to get straight, having missed an intended engagement at Pontefract last month with a vet's certificate, but would seem to retain all of the ability he showed two seasons ago.
Had Candle Smile won the Chester Cup, he would not be such a fancy price for this race and by process of default, must come into the reckoning for at least a place.
All of his shorter-priced rivals look either below their best, have unproven resources of stamina, or lack any kind of consistency.
A third win in the race for Double Trigger would tug on the heartstrings, but offers little value for the punter, whereas Samraan and Canon Can have both looked slightly below-par this term.
So side with Candle Smile, currently priced at 100 to 1 with Ladbrokes, for a most `wick'-ed victory.
Henry Cecil has prospects of a double with Bold Fact and Igreja.
Bold Fact has developed into a smart three-year-old and showed his well-being when beating Jo Mell by half a length in a Listed race at York last month.
He has the best credentials in the £35,000 GNER Park Stakes.
Igreja, a South African import, has run well in this Britain, notably when one and three quarter lengths second to Among Men at Yarmouth.
She should be thereabouts in an open race for the Kyoto Sceptre Stakes.
Dashing Blue, an excellent third to Lochangel in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York, has a chance to prove that form in the Scarbrough Stakes.
At Newton Abbot, Martin Pipe can predictably farm the winners, notably with Fill The Bill in the End of Summer Selling Hurdle and Medaille Militaire in the Lee And Caroline Singleton 10th Wedding Anniversary Novices' Hurdle.
