Tony Carroll eyes return to winning ways at Brighton Races

But here’s a topical tip for the penultimate fixture at the seaside site this season - Kondratiev Wave.

Worcestershire trainer Tony Carroll, who has clocked up more winners at Brighton in the past decade than goals netted by Harry Kane for England, is going through his leanest patch for a couple of years - 81 winners by early September, but then a frustrating bout of “seconditis”.

The Carroll squad was in action under the floodlights at Dunstall Park last night and he brings six Mill House raiders on the long trek from Pershore, with star apprentice Jack Doughty expected to give racegoers a celebratory “wave” as he crosses the winning line in the afternoon’s finale at 5.15.

Top weight the seven-year-old may be, but he has not finished out of the frame in his past ten outings, and following a bold effort last time out at Lingfield, I believe his consistency will finally reap the reward of a third course success, and seventh in all.

Carroll has live chances in the other four races he contests, and I could see Under Curfew getting the better of stable-mate Recon Mission in the opening sprint handicap (2.10) for apprentices, under “pocket rocket” Molly Gunn.

I’m sticking with another long distance traveller, Fighting Poet, to recite another chapter in his burgeoning career, and make it three wins from his last four outings in the 4.10 for shrewd Adlestrop-based trainer-cum-impressionist Richard Timothy Phillips.

The “Poet” is my nap selection to strengthen Sean Dylan Bowen’s stranglehold on the apprentices title, as he seeks to keep friend and rival Joe Leavy at bay.

Rising South African-born trainer Dylan Cunha, in only his third season based in Newmarket, sets a poser with two runners in the 3.10 - Dapper Gee Gee and The Kamikaze King. Don’t expect the latter to self destruct!

Selections: 2.10 Under Curfew, 2.40 Assandraalexandra, 3.10 The Kamikaze King, 3.40 Total Lockdown, 4.10 Fighting Poet [nap], 4.45 Desert footsteps, 5.15 Kondratiev Wave.