Dunnett targets Yarmouth encore

The quirky four-year-old, owned by Norwich City deputy chairman Michael Foulger, has flattered to deceive so far in her racecourse career but steps up to a mile and three this afternoon.

'The trip is a little further than we would probably like but the difficulty with her is trying to get her to re-produce the form she shows in training on the track,' said experienced trainer Dunnett.

'She has had a lot of problems in the past. We ran her last week over one mile and two and I don't think she got the best ride in the world, although I guess trainers always criticise the jockeys when they are not happy.

'I've got a young apprentice, Daniel Harris, in the yard who is talented and the race is for jockeys with less than ten wins. It's on the doorstep as well and with her handicap mark we are going to struggle to get into races. Trying to find a suitable race without travelling hundreds and hundreds of miles is hard, but I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.'

Dunnett admitted keen racing enthusiast Foulger had yet to see the best of Carlcol Girl.

'I've had her since she was a two-year-old and she has never really done it for me but the owner has been very patient and hopefully we can reward them,' she said.

'He has been a great supporter. I have known Mike for many, many years. He has had this horse with me for a number of years and unfortunately I haven't given him any results yet. I manage to persuade him to run the horse and promise she isn't useless and then she doesn't do anything to convince us otherwise on the track.

'The question mark as I say is whether it's a little bit too far for her. We have never tried her over this trip so maybe it's exactly what she wants. We have run her at Yarmouth for her last two runs and I don't know whether the ground might have been too firm but I would expect they've had the rain we've had in the last few days. The ground should certainly be a little bit easier than her two previous runs.'

Dunnett's yard is rounding into some decent summer form with Riley's Crane a 100-1 Yarmouth winner this month and Avec Moi a close third at Southwell on Tuesday night.

'That was also a big 100-1 outsider and got beaten only half a length and a head and she ran well,' said Dunnett. 'I think the horses are in good nick and running well. We had a big-priced winner at Yarmouth recently and I feel very optimistic about the horses now so hopefully they'll have a good year.

'We've got about 20 in training this season, which is slightly down on numbers, but I wanted a few less. It is hard work and we have had several who were on last chances. It's just not economical.

'You are striving for better horses because everybody is in the same situation and it's very, very hard to win races. It is a struggle but I have some old faithfuls I am persevering with.'

• Sir Michael Stoute's Levitate will take all the beating in Yarmouth's feature on a bumper eight-race card.

Former champion jockey Ryan Moore gets the leg up in a competitive digibet.com Handicap (4.40pm). The ultra-consistent three-year steps up an extra furlong after finishing third in his racecourse re-appearance at Newbury last month.

Jamie Fanshawe's Mantatsi and Irish bred Buckland could be the biggest dangers.

Apostle is primed to shed his maiden tag in Division One of the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Stakes opener to the meeting (2.10pm).

Michael Bell's juvenile acquitted himself well in a couple of hot contests over this trip at York recently. The highly-rated Invincible Dream produced a modest effort in soft conditions at Salisbury but Tom Queally's mount may appreciate the better ground.

Unraced duo Aim Higher and Willie Haggas' Vital Gold are worth monitoring in the ring for any signs of sustained market support.

Haggas could also strike in the Division Two event with Justineo stepping up from a sharp five furlong contest at Nottingham where he finished a well-beaten third to Bear Behind. Michael Hills gave Justineo a sympathetic racecourse introduction and with Moore in the saddle, Haggas' charge should be a short-priced favourite.

Arctic Dancer will relish the drop in trip in the Sealife Centre Great Yarmouth Selling Stakes (3.10pm). The two-year old filly can score for new connections after being touched off last time out at the seaside.

William Carson's mount had the benefit of the standside rail, but looked quick enough to get her head up in this type of grade. Ed Dunlop's One New Cat is a major rival.

The Avenue Pub Beatty Road Handicap is a minefield with four previous course and distance winners – but Bahia Emerald could score after a six furlong success on her last trip to the seaside.

Jeremy Noseda's daughter of Bahamian Bounty was beaten off a lower mark at Goodwood recently on soft ground but won a decent contest against Albany Rose which has since produced multiple winners.

The big question mark is whether she has enough stamina to last the extended trip.