Prince to rule at first time of asking

Prince Of Petra is an intriguing newcomer for Roger Varian in the feature British EBF Future Stayers Oath Novice Stakes at Nottingham on Wednesday.

He is a half-brother to Derby runner-up and French Group One winner Maltese Cross, who was sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, and the Persian King colt begins life on the track over an extended 1600m.

Pedigree suggests that will suit Prince Of Petra, who is certainly in the right hands for a staying type with Varian, and he can go one place better than his illustrious sibling did first time up.

Charlie Johnston’s Kanzi will be aiming to bounce back to form in the British Stallion Studs EBF Nursery Handicap.

Opening with a promising second, the Ghaiyyath filly scored on her second start on the all-weather at Lingfield ahead of a useful looking sort.

It did not go to plan at Carlisle last time out, but Kanzi showed enough potential in her first two appearances to get back in contention and put a line through her recent display.

Another interesting debutant, this time for Ed Walker, is big-money purchase Venetian Storm in the opening EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

A half-sister to Walker’s Prix de l’Abbaye winner Makarova, the Night Of Thunder filly cost owner Lady Bamford 1,100,000 guineas last October and piques attention due to going to Kingsdown.

She starts over 1200m, shorter than Makarova began in 2021 before she became a top-quality mare over the shortest distance.

There could be eerie similarities to her sire, who started his career over this trip in October so it is hard not to be keeping an eye on Venetian Storm’s progress.

Continuing on the Flat at Kempton, Byzantine makes a long-awaited second appearance to his unbeaten career.

The powerful duo of George Boughey and Billy Loughnane combine in the Unibet Supports Safer Gambling EBF Novice Stakes, where the St Mark’s Basilica colt aims to build on his win at Yarmouth in May.

Byzantine was the key beneficiary that day when Al Hudaiba was leading by a length before jinking and unseating Tom Marquand to gift victory to Boughey’s charge.

That victory is something to claim on the CV at least, with Al Hudaiba recently winning a Grade One at Woodbine, and connections have clearly taken time with this two-year-old before sending him back out.

Alpinara has been making headlines since her debut and can secure back to back triumphs in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Alpinista’s full-sister carries the pressure of Amo Racing’s 2,500,000 guineas buy.

While she has only made one start as a three-year-old this season, she bolted up by 3.25-lengths at Doncaster in June, which proves she can go well fresh following her debut last October.

King Roly can maintain his good form at Worcester in the opening Copybet Follow Us On X Handicap Chase.

The Mickey Bowen-trained seven-year-old was a scorer here on his penultimate run in August, following up with a second at Cartmel later that month. A little freshen up will do his chances no harm in search of a fifth career chase victory.

Dundee Law makes his debut for champion trainer Dan Skelton in the Step Into Luxury With Purple Granite National Hunt Flat Race.

The four-year-old switched after two contests for Stuart Crawford, coming second in the most recent of those in March, and Skelton will be keen to get another winner on the board with an untapped sort.

Lightly-raced Arms Park can continue the bright start to his career for Cath Williams in the Mowden Park RFC Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield.

Three bumper starts have yielded a second, third and a triumph so far and the five-year-old could be hard to beat if he takes to hurdling. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Wednesday. Here are the tips.

WORCESTER: Race 1: 14.05 King Roly, Race 2: 14.35 Draco Malfoy, Race 3: 15.05 Dundee Law, Race 4: 15.35 Affection, Race 5: 16.05 Spanish Darling, Race 6: 16.35 Taranis Dubh, Race 7: 17.05 Calibos, Race 8: 17.35 Brookside La.

NOTTINGHAM: Race 1: 14.29 Castlerock Girl, Race 2: 14.59 Reem Rak, Race 3: 15.29 PRINCE OF PETRA (NAP), Race 4: 15.59 Kanzi, Race 5: 16.29 Dark Whisper, Race 6: 16.59 Get Outta Here, Race 7: 17.29 Kokoluna, Race 8: 18.05 Asadjumeirah.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 14.50 Arms Park, Race 2: 15.20 Flashy Boy, Race 3: 15.50 Jet Of Dreams, Race 4: 16.20 Aimeric, Race 5: 16.50 Littletown Lad, Race 6: 17.20 Moyanna.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 18.00 Timely Affair, Race 2: 18.30 Byzantine, Race 3: 19.00 Usaylah, Race 4: 19.30 Alpinara, Race 5: 20.00 Royal County Glory, Race 6: 20.30 Madman, Race 7: 21.00 Luan, Race 8: 21.30 Snooker McCrew.

ALL TO COME: King Roly (Worcester, Race 1) and Prince Of Petra (Nottingham, Race 3).