The Scout has selected seven horses to follow this week, headlined by Naqeeb at 20-1 for Saturday's Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes.
Newbury and Catterick selections
PRIMAL (4.10) runs in Newbury's Pump Technology Nursery over seven furlongs on Wednesday. The Andrew Balding-trained juvenile caught the eye on his handicap debut at 'Glorious Goodwood', when he just missed the places in a Class Two event of this type.
Slightly squeezed out at the start, the selection was switched off the rails by Marco Ghiani with two furlongs to run but seemed uneasy on the course's undulations. Once the chestnut colt found his stride, he flew home for fourth behind an all-the-way winner and although he should get a bit further in time, looks ready to strike off a mark of 73.
His half-sister Unassuming achieved a peak rating of 91 and Primal is bidding to become the third winning horse for the dam Unpretentious.
Call Margot and Laylaty
Bet365 put in CALL MARGOT (4.15) at 22-1 on their opening show for Catterick's Oops A Daisy Handicap and at a double-figure price she makes each-way appeal. Not unbacked in better sprints, the grey filly's standout effort was a close second to Naana's Shadow (now rated 102) in the three-year-old Dash at Epsom in June.
Call Margot could do with a bit more assistance from the assessor, but she is starting to edge back down the weights and has come out better on the draw front than several of the other speedier types.
At Ffos Las on Thursday, LAYLATY (2.37) is one to keep onside in the opening class five nursery, up 4lb for scoring by a narrow margin at Lingfield. The runner-up Rogue Imperial has franked the form and the pair had three previous winners in behind, after Laylaty charged through a gap to get ahead close to home.
Outer Edge and Arcon
Chris Mason, a trainer who does well with his small string of horses, has dropped OUTER EDGE (3.37) down to classified company at the Welsh track. Previously rated 60, the five-year-old gelding was second favourite for a handicap there in June and this is easier, up against lower-rated opponents.
MOMENT OF LIGHT (4.40) looks a nice recruit for juvenile hurdles in the colours of The Gredley Family and could start off in a 2m 1½f contest at Fontwell on Friday.
Sedgefield is trainer Jennie Candlish's best course for winners and if the rain comes there might be a bit of value about ARCON (5.00) in the Newts Rocket To The Top Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle. A winner on the Flat at Haydock in September 2025, he caught the attention of the stewards on his penultimate jumps run and now qualifies for a mark.
Naqeeb ante-post interest
Saturday seems a long way off but The Scout will be having a little ante-post interest in NAQEEB (3.10) at 20-1 for the Group Two Virgin Bet Celebration Mile Stakes. The son of Nathaniel likes to get his toe in, took the 2025 Listed Foundation Stakes at this circuit and was not disgraced behind several Group One performers Zeus Olympios and More Thunder in Ascot's Summer Mile.
Julie Camacho's stable has been a bit slower to get going this season after a couple of their best years, but hopes are high for a big finish and this race could cut up if wet weather sweeps in.
