It was a decent day for our list to follow that supplied 4 winners. French Saulaie has spoiled his chances over hurdles at times this season as he tends to be over keen. He was well restrained by Richard Johnson at the back of the field though and came through strongly to win with something in hand.
On the flat Sakhee’s Secret ran right away from his rivals in the closing handicap at Newmarket and looks up to competing in listed class. There were also wins for Petara Bay and Arabian Gulf.
There is a nice mix of flat and jumps again tomorrow and I will start with the jumpers at Cheltenham.
Dunsfold Duke was 2nd last time out at Lingfield. He runs in the 2.55 where he will encounter good ground for the first time. Our other runner in this is Reach for the Top who will be ridden by Tony McCoy. After winning a weak race at Folkestone he was pulled up on his latest outing at Wincanton. If we ignore that last run he would be in with a chance here but he is probably one for next season rather than this.
We are well represented in the 3.30. Karello Bay is likely to be popular after her impressive win at Haydock last month. Miss Mitch is a nice type and has a 5 lbs pull at the weights with Karello Bay after running 2nd to Nicky Henderson’s mare at Haydock. Annie’s Answer goes for a hat trick after wins at Bangor and Huntingdon. She has done little wrong so far and although upped in class here could well be good enough. Ring Back, who had good bumper form was a winner last time out at Towcester and Tony McCoy has been booked to ride. The weight might just prove too much for Karello Bay so I will take a chance with Annie’s Answer each way.
Roznic (4.05) showed that eh handles decent ground when winning at Kempton last time. This will be harder as he has been raised 8 lbs but is still entitled to go well.
Leading Contender has been expensive to follow but with the ground in his favour should not be far away in the 4.40. Beau Michel is our other list runner in this race. He has earned his place on our list with a couple of wins. He was a bit fortunate to win his last race but the handles the ground and I note he is blinkered for the first time. He is stepped up to 3 miles which should be in his favour.
At Newmarket there are plenty of old favourites in the 3.10 notably Quito and Sierra Vista who have figured in these pages many times in the past. Baltic King is the one I like here though. Trip and ground will suit him and his trainer had a winner today.
Adagio and Thousand Words are the runners from our list to follow in the Craven Stakes at 3.40. It is always tricky with these first time out 3 year olds but I am going to narrowly favour the less experienced Adagio.
We have a quartet of runners in the 4.20. Illustrious Blue was 3rd in the Winter Derby so is fit. Stepped up in class here though. Clive Cox has had some good horses in recent years, notably New Seeker. Dimelight could be a similar type running in the better races around a mile. This may just be a bit too classy for him though. Secret World is a talented individual who has had a few injury problems. He should win a race or two this season but for my each way selection I will go with Ivy Creek, another that has been injured but showed a progressive profile last season.
In the 5.30 I will take a chance with Mutajarred. He won on his second outing last season and is bred to appreciate this trip.
In the 2.00 at Newmarket there are encouraging reports about Hazytoo and King’s Event.
Macorville will be one to follow later in the season but does not look to be suited by the conditions in the Ripon 3.20.
Ravi River was a winner at Chester last season. He is fit from a run on the all weather and should run well in the 3.55.
That is it for tonight
ahorse 