Cecil filly is a sound bet

LATE developer Turning Wheel can continue to make up for lost time in today's Bonusprint October Stakes at Ascot.

The three-year-old might have been expected to make her mark by now, as a half-sister to Royal Ascot-winning juvenile Space Cruiser and last year's St Leger runner-up Minds Music.

But Henry Cecil, who has no peer in his training of fillies, recognised that she needs time and delayed her debut until August when he was convinced she was ready.

Turning Wheel wasted little time in repaying her trainer's patience. A highly-promising second to Flame Valley on her first run at Windsor, she made mincemeat of her rivals in a big field of maidens on her return to the same course a fortnight later.

Flame Valley went from Windsor to land a Listed race and Turning Wheel promises to do the same today.

She certainly appears to have inherited plenty of her family's ability. And the soft surface at Ascot should suit her, given her half-brother's effectiveness with give in the ground.

Fairy Knight has very strong claims for the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series Final Handicap.

The four-year-old failed to sparkle in the first half of the season, with one sixth place the best he could manage in his first six starts.

Fairy Knight may well have resumed winning ways at Lingfield last time but for bad luck in running. He looked certain to prevail two furlongs from home so well was he travelling on the heels of the leaders that day but he was continually denied a run and Dane O'Neill eventually gave him up as a lost cause.

The Len Lungo-trained Palace Of Gold, in the frame in four of his last five starts on the Flat, can land the Harraby Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle.

Set a lot to do in each of three outings to date over hurdles, he is almost certainly capable of better and has not been asked a stiff question on his handicap debut over jumps.