Ascot
2.20 Aiken is on a winning run, handles the ground and is a course and distance winner. He looks the one to be on here.
2.50 The two I fancy are Free Verse and Chatterati. The former is a winner on soft ground and gets the nod.
5.10 Rocket Rob is one for the notebook. He is best on fast ground so I will avoid him today but he is dropping down the weighst and there may be a race in him when the weather bucks up a bit!
5.40 This is a tricky little race. Grumeti was third in the Triumph Hurdle and went on to win at Aintree. Back on the flat here he is very much respected. Viking Storm is a consistent sort and comes here on the back of a win at Lingfield. He stays this trip well but may prefer faster ground. Lord of the House won 3 times lasts season all with give in the ground. He stays well (will stay further than this) and I would just give him the edge over Grumeti.
Haydock
4.50 Tidal Way has a likeable attitude, is a distance winner and is unsuited by cut in the ground. Added to the fact that he has dropped a couple of pounds since his last run and he looks value here.
Lingfield
2.20 Fallen for You, a recent winner at Kempton is bred along middle distance lines but has won at this trip and is worth an interest.
2.40 Vow comes from a winning family and made a successful start to her own career at Newbury. She looks a worthy favourite for this Oaks trial.
3.10 Shantaram, Main Sequence and Hallings Quest and are the trio I like. I think they will finish in that order.
Nottingham
3.50 It might be worth going for an outsider in this sprint. Vocational and Roger Sez are the apir that catch my eye with Roger Sez the more likely to handle the ground.
4.25 Split stake Zakreet and Just Fabulous.
Thirsk selections
7.05 Lordofthehouse
8.45 Secret City
Picture courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn
ahorse 