Signs of encouragement for Bated Breath supporters

Those punters who have already taken ante-post prices about Roger Charlton's very smart sprinter Bated Breath and who thought they had 'done their money' when news broke that he had suffered a training setback earlier in the week now have a little more to smile about after the Beckhampton handler reported his speed merchant to have made considerable progress and to be a likely runner in Friday's Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at the York Ebor Meeting 2011.

The prospects of Prince Khaled Abdullah's colt, (a fine runner-up to Dream Ahead in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket last month), making the starting line-up for the feature sprint at York's Ebor Festival had looked poor after he was reported to have suffered extensive bruising to a foot following a training gallop earlier in the week, but it appears that the application of a poultice and regular visits from a blacksmith (who has worked intensively on the injured foot), seem to have all but done the trick and Charlton on Saturday confidently suggested that his charge is now 85\15 likely to be well enough to take his chance in the five-furlong dash.

The four-year-old Dansili colt has been tremendously progressive over the last 12 months, graduating from handicap company to comfortably land a listed success at Windsor in May before shaping very well in finishing just over two-lengths fifth to Society Rock in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. At Newmarket last month Bated Breath was the only horse to make a race of it with brilliant winner Dream Ahead, keeping on bravely to finish a half-length second to Hayley Turner's winner, and a length-and-a-half clear of the remainder.

Having drifted out to 9/1 when news of his injury broke, Bated Breath is now back to around 15/2 to land the coveted York sprint title in a race where the impressive Stewards Cup winner Hoof It currently heads the ante-post market as 4/1 favourite.

Meanwhile, followers of Paul Nicholls Betfair column will be anticipating the return of the National Hunt racing season.