Timeform Notebook: Caravan to keep on rolling

Peter Chapple-Hyam has a progressive horse in Caravan Rolls On.
Three horses who caught the eye at the Doncaster St Leger meeting feature in the latest installment of the Timeform Notebook...
Dropping back to the minimum distance appeared to conjure some improvement out of Cheworee, who finished third in the concluding five furlong handicap on the opening day of the Doncaster St Leger meeting. David Elsworth's three-year-old filly had never raced over the trip before, but she didn't appear to lack the speed for it, travelling comfortably on the bridle until the furlong pole having made eye catching progress through the pack. A lightly-raced filly, Cheworee has the potential to build on this, particularly as she remains unexposed over five furlongs.
Progressive in maidens and trained by Luca Cumani, Nargys was fancied in many quarters to make a successful introduction to handicap company when tackling a competitive nursery at Doncaster last Thursday. Although failing to win, she came out of the race with her reputation enhanced, finishing second having tanked along towards the rear, also impressing in the manner in which she made up the ground to get herself into contention. Having nearly got upsides the winner a furlong out her effort flattened slightly close home, but the abiding memory to take from the race was the ease with which she travelled, and she looks more than capable of landing a similar contest.
We are not exactly flying under the radar with our final Notebook selection, but Caravan Rolls On really did appear extremely unfortunate not to make it six wins from his last seven races when finding plenty of trouble in the Mallard Stakes. The steady pace almost certainly wasn't to his advantage but the greater issue was the interference he suffered, where he was repeatedly denied a run before finishing strongly and only narrowly failing to overhaul the leaders despite suffering such an unlucky passage. As you might expect for a horse with such an impressive winning record, Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt is extremely progressive and compensation surely awaits in a similar type of event.
Runners Debrief
It is not worth giving up on Strictly Silver just yet, despite him failing to justify favouritism at Doncaster last week. Having stumbled barely a furlong into the contest, Strictly Silver met further trouble as he attempted to make his effort a couple of furlongs out and, over a trip possibly short of his optimum, he finished with plenty still to give. The three-year-old could make a quick return to action as he holds a trio of entries this week, as connections attempt to earn a penalty to help him secure a place in the prestigious Cambridgeshire Handicap.
Rex Imperator produced his second below-par effort in succession when trailing home in the Portland, having got upset in the stalls. It is most likely best to overlook this run, although it remains to be seen whether he can fulfil the abundant promise he displayed earlier in the campaign.
We have plenty to look forward to this week as a number of our 'Notebook' horses hold entries. Barren Brook shaped as if he was coming back to form last time and he might try to exploit a lenient mark at Catterick on Saturday. Another horse on our list who may attempt to plunder a handicap is Princess Caetani, who is engaged in a couple of contests at Yarmouth and Newmarket this week. It looks as if stamina could prove to be her strong suit, so stepping up in trip to a mile and a half seems certain to suit.
A couple of unlucky efforts in defeat ensured that the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zumbi warranted inclusion to the 'Notebook', and he may bid to atone for those reverses in a listed race at Newbury on Friday.
Our best chance of success may come via a pair of interesting two-year-olds. Market Town was introduced to the racecourse in what looked like a strong maiden, and he is likely to hold leading claims should he reappear at Newbury on Saturday. Majestic Moon , who shaped with conspicuous promise on his nursery debut at York, is likely to be among the market principals should he run at Ayr on Friday, where he will compete off the same mark.