Invisible Man has been a beaten favourite on each of his 3 starts so far. He probably has the ability to win the opener at Newmarket but is obviously not one to be over confident about. The unraced Bourne looks interesting on pedigree and may repay a small each way investment.
The 2.55 looks a competitive handicap with several progressive types. The Mark Johnston trained Petrovsky has already run up a hat trick of wins on the all weather and has the scope to do even better in time. Chiberta King won on his handicap debut at Windsor and may be ahead of the handicapper. Both trainer and jockey are in fine form. Distant Memories won a heavy ground maiden at Ayr last season and with just 2 career starts to his name has the scope to improve and should be all the better for this step up in trip. Clowance House won a maiden at Salisbury over tomorrow’s trip and does not look on a bad mark. On fast ground I would go for Clowance House but if there is rain and it gets into the ground then I would switch my allegiance to Petrovsky. Really testing ground would bring in Distant Memories.
Twisted showed some promise on his only start as a juvenile and should be suited by some give in the ground. He would be my somewhat tentative selection for the Newbury 1.30.
Paco Boy is the obvious form pick in the Lockinge at 2.40. He accounted for two of his main rivals, Dream Eater and Virtual at Sandown over this trip at least partly dispelling fears that he doesn’t stay a mile. There are no stamina doubts where Twice Over is concerned as he stays further. On the best of his form he would be a big threat to Paco Boy but he has had a problem with a corn on his foot which may have held up his preparation. The lightly raced Aqlaam is not proven over a mile but there is sufficient stamina in his pedigree to suggest it will be within his compass. Paco Boy has to be the most likely winner although his price looks skinny. Virtual would benefit from any further rain as he has winning form on soft ground.
In the 3.10 I am going to rely on the recent Yarmouth maiden winner Holyrood who is lightly raced and is gaining experience all the time.
My selections for the remainder of the Newbury card are; Lovely Thought, danger Miss Eze (4.20); Euston Square (4.55) and Almuktahem (5.30).
Up at Thirsk my list to follow is represented by Shemoli in the 2.30. He has finished runner up on both his starts this season and has perhaps been a shade disappointing. The stable are perhaps not quite firing at present and I am going to bypass him this time.
Roman Republic can race a bit keenly but as long as he settles he looks the one to be on in the 3.40.
Dandy Nicholls has 4 of the 10 runners in the 4.15. Adele Mulrennan is worth her 7 lbs claim and I will tip her to give Cape Vale a winning ride.
There is an evening card at Doncaster where I like the look of Dig Deep and Carleton in the 7.40.Carleton is the more likely to handle the ground and he is the selection.
In the 8.10 Bravo Echo looks nicely in at the weights while Cook’s Endeavour could go well at a big price.
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Ruth Buchanan.
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