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Hi all,

The Racing Post was down earlier which means I’m playing catch up this morning.

Ascot

1:50 – Naval Crown – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made a promising racecourse debut when 3^rd of 9 at Newmarket 15-days ago. There should be plenty of improvement to come from the colt but there will need to be as he steps up into Listed company here. Trainer Charlie Appleby won this race 12 months ago and has his horses in great form 9 winners from 24 runners 38% in the past 14-days.

4:45 – Star Cactus – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Was fancied on her racecourse debut when 4^th of 9 at Newmarket last month and proved she stayed 7f when finishing runner-up at the same venue 35-days ago. Capable of better on her nursery debut for an inform yard.

York

3:15 – Orbaan – 7/2 @ Bet365 – No show on his first start for trainer David O’Meara at Newmarket last month but bounced back to form with a C&D win 16-days ago. Handicapper has raised the 5-year-old 4lb for that win which doesn’t look insurmountable given his liking for the track. Seemed to enjoy the easier surface last time but if not inconvenienced by a sounder surface is the one to beat.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three selections today from Beverley & Ripon.

Beverley

2:25 – Le Chiffre – 15/8 @ Bet365 – The 3-year-old has returned to action in great form with wins here over 7 ½ f and when stepping up to 1m ½ f at Hamilton 21-days ago. Up 7lb but going the right way and has a handy low draw. Will be hard to stop in his hat trick bid.

Ripon

6:25 – Muscika – The selection is on a long losing run of 16 that dates back to May 2019 off today’s mark. Showed he wasn’t far off his best when a ¾ length 2^nd of 18 at York 6-days ago. Yet to notch a win here from four attempts but has placed twice. Suited by an easy 6f and if the first-time blinkers replace the visor and if the headgear change has the desired effect can break his long losing run.

7:25 – Dubai Future – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The top-weight takes a slight drop-in class here after his 6^th of 13 to Cape Coast at Newmarket last week. Didn’t seem to stay the 1m 6f on soft ground but was still bang there a furlong out. Just the eight career starts so is open to a shade more improvement and gets the first time cheekpieces today for the drop back to 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was good to end the losing run with a couple of nice priced winners at Yarmouth yesterday. Today’s two selections are from Pontefract & Uttoxeter.

Pontefract

5:35 – French Asset – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Shaped well when 4^th on his handicap debut at Kempton two starts back, despite still looking green.  Finished runner-up to Glenties at Windsor 10-days ago, looking a shade inexperienced in the finish. Gets the first-time blinkers today and can race off the same mark as at Windsor. If the headgear has the desired effect, he looks the one to beat.

Uttoxeter

2:40 – Twin Star – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was a decent flat handicapper when trained by Andrew Balding. Hasn’t reached any great heights over hurdles – 0 wins from 8 runs- so far but has shown enough to suggest she’s capable of winning in the sphere. Third of seven on her seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot 16-days ago was a satisfactory return to action and if she can find a bit more improvement shouldn’t be far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

‘Squeaky bum’ time as the losing run is starting to build up. Today’s selections are from Yarmouth & Bath.

Yarmouth

3:50 – Craigburn – 15/2 @ Bet365 – Won a nursery handicap at Thirsk last September, off 2lb lower.  The filly made an encouraging start to the campaign when running on in to second here over 5f. Her subsequent poor run at Lingfield can be explained as she was suffering from the thumps, which is equine hiccups.  A reproduction of her seasonal reappearance would put her bang in the mix here back at 6f.

4:20 – Anglo Saxson – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection ran with plenty of promise as 2-year-old including a career best effort when 4^th of 12 in a maiden over C&D last September. A satisfactory effort when 3^rd of 8 at Bath 20-days ago. He’s been dropped 2lb since and should be capable of good run for the inform Charlie Fellowes yard.

Bath

5:10 – Cotton Club – 13/2 @ Bet365 – A winner here over three furlongs further last August, off 3lb lower. He returns from a 136-day break today but was a close up third in this race 12 months ago after a similar lay off so fitness shouldn’t be an issue for an inform trainer.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

When Bestrella got chinned at Ballinrobe last evening you just knew it wasn’t going to be a good day.

Sandown

5:00 – Our Oystercatcher – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Goes well at Sandown and hasn’t been out of the first three on all his five starts over C&D. Last career win came here last August off 5lb lower.  Ran well here 5-days ago and looks set for another big run today.

8:45 – Notforalongtime – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection has won three of his four career starts and made a winning handicap debut when getting up on the line to beat subsequent Newmarket winner Indie Angel by a nose at Doncaster. That race was run in a good time and he’s only been raised 1lb for that success.

Chepstow

1:05 – Alba Del Sole – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Has been in great form since her return to action winning at Leicester two starts back and improving on that effort when beaten just a short head at Ripon 7-days ago. In great form at present has conditions to suit and looks capable of getting back in to the winner enclosure here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Less said about yesterday’s selections the better. Onto Monday’s selections which are from Windsor and Ballinrobe.

Windsor

5:00 – Second Collection – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Goes really well at Windsor, with two C&D wins, and has never been out of the first four on her four starts at the track. She ran really well to finish a neck second over 5f two weeks ago.  Return to six today is in her favour and although she’s been nudged up 2lb for last time. Looks set for a big run.

Ballinrobe

6:15 – Bestrella – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Gained a well-deservedsuccess for some consistent efforts when winning at Dundalk 8-days ago. Takes a 2 ½ furlong jump in distance for his handicap debut but there is stamina on the dam side of the pedigree. Prominent racers do well here, so stall three looks a good draw for the top-weight who can go close for the inform Johnny Murtagh yard.

8:15 – Indian Eye – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old ran much better than her final position of 8th suggests at Killarney last week. She seemed to be travelling as well as anything coming to the furlong marker but was short of room at a crucial stage. Finished runner-up here 12 months ago so the sharp track doesn’t inconvenience her. The mare remains a maiden after 15 starts over all codes but has shown enough to think she has a race in her off a basement mark of 45.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The soft ground at Haydock went against Street Lightning yesterday evening. However, Tell William’s win at Newbury ensured a profitable day. Today’s selections are from York, Southwell and the Curragh.

York

1:55 – Ventura Rebel – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Won his first two juvenile starts last season and wasn’t disgraced on his next two starts, including finishing runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes. Shaped with promise with when 6^th at Newcastle on his first start for 320-days and built on that effort when staying on into 3^rd in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup last time. Takes a big drop-in class today and can go close if staying 7f.

Southwell

2:40 – Double W’s – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Looked to be improving when rattling off a good ground hat trick in April/June last year. Not so good on three subsequent starts and was pulled up at Musselburgh in February on his last start. Two wins from 7 runs when racing 121+day since his last run so goes well fresh and could be worth chancing just 1lb above his last winning mark.

Curragh

4:45 – So Suave – 10/1 @ Paddy Power – Looked progressive when winning at Dundalkand Gowran Parklast month. Struggled when up into Group 3 at Leopardstown 18-days ago but is back into a handicap company today and should be seen to better effect. Trainer Johnny Murtagh had a winner here yesterday and his record in 3-year-old only Curragh Handicaps is now a healthy 7 winners from 19 runners 12 placed.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Nice to return to the fray with not one, but two winners on Friday. Today’s selections are from Newbury & Haydock.

Newbury

5:00 – Tell William – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old’s sole win from nine starts came at Bath last August and he put in a career best effort returned to that venue when 2^nd of 9 (beaten a neck), 8 days ago. Blinkers replace the visor and the selection looks on a workable mark.

Haydock

7:55 – Street Lightning – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Comes into the race seeking the hat trick after wins at Wolverhampton & Ripon. He’s been well backed on both two career starts and the 3-year-old looks capable of more improvement with racing. A mark of 90 means he should be competitive on his handicap debut.

8:25 – Oso Rapido – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ended last season with a Redcar nursery win on first start over 7f. The handicapper has only raised the 3-year-old 2lb for that success. A 305-day absence to overcome but if ready to roll first time shouldn’t be far away at the finish.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back from two days break. Two selections today from Beverley & Chepstow.

Beverley

2:10 – Dawn Breaking – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Made a winning return to action at Thirsk 25-days ago. Has been nudged up 3lb for that success but looks capable of winning again from a handy low draw.

Chepstow

3:20 – Songkran – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection comes into the race looking for a hat trick of wins after success’s at Yarmouth and latterly Bath 7-days ago. Will be hard to beat under a 5lb penalty.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Involved saved the day on Monday with a decisive win at Windsor.  Today’s selections are from Ayr & Ripon.

Ayr

6:50 – Be Proud – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner at Newcastle last year. The selection is 0 wins from 14 runs on the grass but came close to breaking his maiden tag on the grass when beaten a over C&D 22 -days ago. Probably needs a sound surface to be at his best but is handicapped to pop up in sprint handicap like this before long.

8:30 – Donnachies Girl – 10/3 & Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The mare has made a decent return to action. Finishing 5^th at Beverley and then 3^rd of 9 Musselburgh 13-days ago. Looked to be travelling like the most likely winner coming to three out but just seemed to find her stamina run out inside the final furlong. Drop to 1m 5f should suit and she gets to run off the same mark as last time.

Ripon

8:15 – Sudona – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – You always have to respect a William Haggas horse at Ripon so likely favourite Choral Work is sure to be popular with punters.  However, at the prices I like the claims of top-weight Sudona.  The 5-year-old has a 5lb penalty to carry for winning at Pontefract 7-days ago but can still race in Class 5 company. That was a career best effort from the mare but given her present form she worth following.

Cheers

John