Saga de Tercey gave me a welcome winner today. He looks just the type of stayer that Alan Swinbank excels with and I will follow his progress with interest.
There is always a bit of a lull at this time of the flat season before the better quality action returns with the St Leger. There are plenty of meetings to go at over the weekend though and the quality of the racing isn’t bad after the modest fare served up midweek.
Starting at Beverley my old friend Dig Deep runs in the 2.30. I included him in my list to follow in the hope that things would drop right for him somewhere during the season and he would come in at a big price. He duly obliged last week at 16/1 although he probably isn’t the sort of animal that will necessarily follow up. He has been raised 4 lbs for his short head win and is still well handicapped on his best form. He has a chance but I don’t think the 5/1 currently quoted is value.
Goliath’s Boy has been running quite well without winning and has an each way chance in the 3.00.
The 3.35 is an interesting sprint. Some pundits fancied Invincible Lad at Chester last week but he had little chance from a poor draw and ran well in the circumstances. He should go well as should the Dandy Nicholls runner Masta Plasta.
Goodwood next and the 2.35 where the Godolphin runner Urban Poet is likely to be favourite. I am going to oppose him with John Dunlop’s King of Wands who has impressed me this season. There is perhaps a slight doubt about his ability to handle the track but he will do for me.
The form of the 2,000 Guineas this season has worked out remarkably well and on that basis you have to give Delegator a solid chance in the 2.35. Course and distance winner Zacinto is open to any amount of improvement after just 3 career starts and he could just be the danger.
The pair that make most appeal in the 3.45 are Sent From Heaven and Siyaadah. If pushed for a single selection it would be Sent From Heaven.
At Newmarket the Michael Jarvis pair of Noafal and Sard both hold group entries and any market support for them would be interesting while Palace Moon can bounce back to form in the 3.25 for the in form trainer Hughie Morrison.
Stoic has shown enough in his 2 outings to date to indicate he can win races and he is the selection in the 4.00.
There are two runners from my list to follow in the 5.05, Park Lane and Bullet Man. Now that Park Lane has got off the mark he may be able to build on that success and he is the tentative selection. Moheeb would come into the reckoning given plenty of rain.
At Windsor I will stick with Warringah in the 6.10 after his gallant effort in the Ebor.
Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sarah Aspinall.
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