Shader ready to step into the spotlight

THE lightly-raced Shader is well worth a shot at Listed level in the Unibet Floodlit Stakes at Kempton.

- By ASHLEY IVESON

John and Thady Gosden’s charge looked quite an exciting prospect after winning twice on the all-weather last autumn, including a clear-cut victory over this course and distance, but that was not enough to prevent him from being gelded during the off-season.

He made his reappearance and handicap debut at Haydock in May and while favourite backers were left counting their losses, Shader shaped with more than enough encouragement in finishing third to suggest he would be winning races this term.

For whatever reason he has not been seen in competitive action since, but connections have decided to bring him back on a track where he has already proven his worth and while he does need to improve to get back on the winning trail, there is plenty of scope for him to do so.