Veteran Shavansky Back For Another Year

Shavansky may be the yard's oldest horse still in training, yet off a mark of 87, the nine-year-old is our joint-highest rated horse and remains a classy sort. He is quirky, often slow to stride and needs a strong pace to run at but when things go right, as when successful in last season's London Mile Final at Kempton last year, he's often in the frame. There is plenty in his favour on his seasonal return at Nottingham on Wednesday, he goes well fresh (won first time out in 2009 and 2010) and is two pounds lower than his most recent turf win at Chepstow. The only concern is that old age will eventually catch up with him but with a mile on easy ground his optimum conditions and the yard in such great form, he has to have solid each-way claims.

Once again Icebuster was unlucky not to win when denied by a head at on his return at Kempton last week, the early pace was very steady and he just didn't get going in time. Ideally we'd like to switch him to the turf but the lack of suitable races, combined with the possibility of unsuitable soft ground means we head back to Kempton off the same mark on Thursday. The race is also a qualifier for a £50,000 Final at Kempton in December which could be a possible target for him in the future. Looking through the runners, there isn't many pace setters and quite a few like to be dropped out, so he is unlikely to get his ideal pace scenario once again. However, he is drawn on the outside and although likely to start slowly, with a few rivals likely to be held right up, Andrea might be able to get a mid-division position without chasing him up and making him too keen. Hopefully he gets a bit of luck that has eluded him on the AW so far as he could be a decent handicapper when things fall right.