Last night’s preview yielded 3 winners thanks to Bakbenscher, Bridgewater Boys and Crescent Island, making up for my lack of faith in the chances of Tropical Paradise on Tuesday!
Looking forward to the racing tomorrow Swiss Diva sets the standard in the Newmarket opener at 12.05. She has posted some creditable efforts in her 3 runs and is the obvious choice. She may of course be vulnerable to one of the newcomers of which Emirates Sports and Raaeidd look the most likely.
It is a similar story in the 12.40 where Emirates Roadshow has the form in the book. Ithinkbest and Libel Law look the dangers.
I will settle for the experience of Swiss Diva and Emirates Roadshow in the first two races but in the 1.15 I will take a chance with the unraced Hilbre Point. He is by Giant’s Causeway out of an Oaks winner and the stable are quite capable of getting one ready first time out.
In the 2.25 the lightly raced Island Vista could be on a lenient mark and gets the selection.
At the evening meeting at Wolverhampton Wing Play is the only runner from my list to follow. He has already earned his place on the list with a 14/1 win last time out. I am not sure that he is exactly guaranteed to follow up as he has looked a trifle quirky on occasions but I will stick with him.
My only selection at Down Royal is Jered in the 2.40.
I put Yes Sir in my notebook after his recent run behind Ouzbeck at Cheltenham and on ground that suits him he should go well in the 2.45 at Wetherby. See picture below of Yes Sir chasing home Ouzbeck (courtesy of Kate Tann)
There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the Uttoxeter 1.25. Great Endeavour , an Irish points winner got off the mark over hurdles at Southwell last month. There are slight concerns over the form of the stable however. The Hollinwell has some very solid form in bumpers and is a horse I fully expect to win races this season over timber. He might be worth a small each way interest at 12/1 but what just tempers my enthusiasm is that runners from this yard often need their first race. Bluegun is another Irish point to point winner who won over course and distance on his rules debut last season. His future will be over fences but in the meantime he has a serious chance here.
Philip Hobbs who trains Bluegun has another with a very good chance in the 2.00 with the unusually marked Pancake (pictured below courtesy of Turfpix).
Pancake has already had a couple of runs over fences, finishing third in good company both times and with further schooling at home since then should be good enough to win this. What a Friend is the danger.
ahorse 