Plenty catching the eye today but as ever on a Saturday not going to get carried away. A few doubles and trebles ( maybe ew if the prices are right) might be the way to go.
2.00- Haydock- Tominator- ew @12/1 By no means an obvious choice but definitely needed the run at Chester 2 weeks ago and trainer Reg Hollingshead has reported he's in "great nick" so a small ew bet at 12's looks worth chancing especially as the horse has not been without market support this morning.
2.15 - Goodwood - Mac Gille Eoin - @ 11/2 (General)/Jarrow @6/1 ( Hills) The record of Mac Gille Eoin here reads 1/9, 7/20, 1/10, 5/27, 5/26, and 2/8 and he is suited by downhill tracks in general. Ran well on his reappearance to get within 4 lengths of a horse who subsequently won the Group Two Duke of York Stakes. Probably has bigger targets this season but looks sure to run his race under ideal conditions and is still weighted to be competitive. Stable hitting form and the selection represents their only horse at the races today. I also like Jarrow who if he gets in front could be hard to pass so at 6/1 with Hills just a small saver on this one too.
2.30 - Haydock - Balducci - @ 9/2 (Sportingbet)
Very competitive race but the form of Balducci's second to Irish 2000 Guineas bound Oasis Dream at Newmarket last time out could turn out to be very strong. The selection has been raised three pounds for that effort and that looks very fair with the fourth having also run well at Goodwood since. Balducci has only been seen four times so there is plenty of scope for further progression for a yard who have only sent two horses to this three day meeting.
2.45 - Goodwood - Record Breaker @ 8/1 (General)
Classic Vintage was very tempting with track/trip and ground ideal but, at around twice his price, Record Breaker just gets the vote. The ground has been against him in two of his last three outings but he showed enough in between on the A/W to suggest he is in form. he is now four pounds lower than when last seen winning on fast ground on turf in this country and, the faster they go today, the better it will suit him. The stable are back in form and their 16% strike rate at this track in recent seasons has yielded a l.s.p of £71.
3.00 Haydock: Borderlescott @ 4/1: Has won the last two runnings of the Nunthorpe, one of the feature sprints of the year, and he has enjoyed success on ground ranging from good to firm through to soft. He reopposes Equiano today on the same terms as when beaten three-quarters-of-a-length by him at Newmarket last time, when he looked much more in need of the run than the winner, and he looks capable of reversing the placings today.
3.40 - York:
Hamish McGonagall - @ 5/1 (General)
River Falcon - @ 11/1 (Sportingbet)
Both Hamish McGonagall and River Falcon have run plenty of good races on this track in their time. Hamish McGonagall has returned to run two good races this season and he is well handicapped on his best efforts of last season. He hasn't won since October 2008 but his turn looks near and the likely fast pace today will suit. The yard could hardly be in better form. River Falcon hasn't won for nearly three years but, even though in the veteran stage, he has shown enough in two outings this season to suggest he can win from his lowest mark for five years. He is another who will enjoy a fast pace and is unlikely to be seen until the latter stages.
3.45 Curragh : Canford Cliffs @ 3/1/Oasis Dncer ew @25/1 ( General)- Canford Cliffs is the one for me in this race too though I'm not going against my normal instincts in these big races and will be a small bet only. Definitely a high class horse, hopefully can settle better than on some of his previous runs in which case should be there or thereabouts. Oasis Dancer @ 25/1 looks interesting and with the stable upbeat about his chances a small ew bet on this one too.
4.05 - Haydock - Novellen Lad - @ 5/1 (General)
Has tended to need his initial run of the season in the past but the booking of Ryan Moore suggests he may be more forward than usual for the start of this campaign. He can be a strong traveller and, as a horse who stays seven furlongs, he will appreciate a strong gallop at this shorter trip. He starts the season on a pound lower mark than when finishing just over a length 4/14 over this C/D at the end of last season. That was a much better race than this and he can take advantage of the drop in class for a yard whose horses are running well, even if they haven't found a winner from 20 entries this month.
4.35 - Chester - Dazzling Light - @ 4/1 (General)
5.00- Goodwood Gordon Flash @2/1 Progressed in maidens at 2 yrs and stepped up again when placed both starts this year, shaping as though further will suit. Should go well again, though a 5 lb penalty is a slight concern.
5.35 - Goodwood - Moynahan -@ 15/2 (Stan James)
Good luck all.
Chris
