Selection For York 17th May

2.00 York
I was really impressed with Izzi Top’s reappearance performance just 11 days ago at Newmarket when winning Dahlia Stakes. She was having to carry a 3lb penalty over the rest of the field had Timepiece behind her that day and meets that rival on equal terms today so should have the beating of her again. Gosden openly admited she would need the run to calm her down and that was clear by how buzzed up she got just before the race so you can expect further improvement from that run and she could have a good summer especially how versatile she is ground wise!

4pt win Izzi Top 7/2 bet365

3 Selections For York, Lingfield and Bath 16th May

3.35 York
Very competitive handicap as you would expect but one sticks out a bit like a sore thumb as being potentially overpriced in the current market. Vasily comes from the Pat Eddery yard who have been amongst the winners recently. He was well supported on racecourse debut but was disappointing on the back of that but did show improved form 2nd time out before winning when last seen in a typical poor Brighton maiden although the 2nd has made up into a useful hurdler and was officially rated 80 on the flat so a mark of 82 for a near 3 length victory over him makes it look a workable one. Ground is going to be drying all day apparently and looking at the weather which is gonna be in his favor and aslong as fully wound up for this run he could run a big a race at a decent price.

1pt e/w Vasily 12/1 bet365

5.05 Lingfield
Kangaroo Court looks a massive price! Relatively lightly raced as a 8yr old but very useful jumper rated 140 over fences and 132 over hurdles and an opening mark of 76 switched back to the flat looks lenient having won a maiden around here over 12f in quite a taking fashion. That form has been boosted with the 2nd winning next time out (since been tad disappointing in handicaps although soft ground possible excuse) and 3rd has won a handicap off a mark 71 he was beaten nearly 2lengths behind Kangaroo Court so a mark of 76 looks workable given he could improve again in this sphere. Again yard have been in the winners and do well with there small flat string.

3pt win Kangaroo Court 11/2 Boyles

8.40 Bath
Shy hold a solid chance in this handicap, she remains 6lb above last winning mark but has proved a model of consistency on the AW recently and a return to turf is in her favour, ground holds no fear and she has finished runner twice around here which can count for a lot around here. She got involved in a nasty bumping match when seen at Kempton last time out and did well to finish as close as she did and showed how tough she really is and she fully deserves to get her head back infront.

2pt win Shy 7/2 bet365

2 Selections for Kempton & Beverley 15th May

3.30 Beverley
Bridgehampton might be worth risking in this field on handicap debut, I have followed him since seeing him on his second run he looked as though he could improve significantly for the run but looked a big sort and was a bit of a looker on a cold day at Southwell, didnt improve on that effort really next time out on polytrack but may now have more to offer switched back to turf on handicap debut off a lowly mark of 52 having cost 92,000. Yard have been amongst the winners and has been gelded since last run. Certainly bred to get this significant step up in trip with Dam a winner over this trip and closely related to Fame And Glory so stamina could be a strong suit here!

2pt win Bridgehampton 5/1 bet365

6.50 Kempton
Quite like the chances of Spin Again from the Daniel Kubler yard, he appreciated the switch to this yard earlier in the year when winning back to back handicaps on this surface including around here when an impressive winner off 60, backed that up under a penalty at Lingfield before bombing out returned to turf on sticky ground so easily forgiven that run but a return to this surface brought about a return to form in a seller on unfavourable terms so could easily take a prominent roll back in handicap company back here just as effective over 6f as 7f and well drawn for a prominent role in stall 2 and Barzalona an eye catching booking!

2pt win Spin Again 7/1 bet365

Selection For Redcar Monday 14th May

2.30 Redcar
No Poppy won last time out for a yard enjoying a purple patch at the time but all of a sudden they are back in the doldrums and a 5lb rise leaves her vunerable in a stronger race.
Aerodynamic caught many people eye on seasonal reappearance at Doncaster on good ground finishing strongly maybe slightly flattered by that given he was probably only passing beaten horses and is probably better over further than 7f these days.
Robert The Painter has joined the ever succesful Omeara yard who does well with over yards castoffs and there has been some money for him this morning but that might just be someone anticipating a gamble as it appears to have dried up quickly. He became very unreliable last year and remains only a winner of one race on debut can only be watched at present for me!
Ruth Carrs runners are in great form at the moment as so often they do at this time of year. Beckermet showed a lot more last time out in a competitive 20 runner handicap at Doncaster over 6f. Swift keeps the ride and takes the handy 3lb off again and return to 7f should suit much better and soft ground ideal should go well in a weaker race.

2pt win Beckermet 7/2 bet365

Selection For Bath 7th May

3.10 Bath
This is a tight little handicap with 5 of the runners all battling out for favouritism now.
Gilded Edge might get a soft lead in this, he won with some authority when getting that soft lead last time and the 2nd has since ran 2nd in another strong race at Epsom. But a 5lb rise makes life tougher having never gone close off a mark this high.
Saborido has a good record around here infact 3 from 4 including this race last year, 7lb higher this year and only had 2 others to beat last year, only had 1 more run last year so suggests theres been a problem and little to gleem from seasonal debut so can only really be watched.
Salontyre has gone up 4lb for finishing 2nd last time out over CD that looks harsh and for his consistency he is 8lb above last winning mark and will have to find more!!
Captain Sharpe is running from 4lb out of the handicap and is effectively 13lb higher for his last flat start at Kempton when third so that is a worry but did improve to win over hurdles last time out off a mark of 124 so perhaps not totally out of it but something to prove back on the flat
For me My Arch might be worth taking with me again. Useful sort on his day and handles cut in the ground, not at best on reappearance but given a strange ride and did catch the eye staying on again in the closing stages. Should come on for the run and handicapper kindly dropped him 2lb for that run and now finds himself 1lb below last winning mark and much better than most of these on a going day!

2pt win My Arch 4/1 pp

Selections For Hamilton 6th May

5.10 Hamilton
Typical decent staying handicap at Hamilton. Outragous Request hasnt been seen on the flat for sometime but did score off a 1lb higher mark in the past and could be well treated and atleast comes into this fit from hurdles but probably best watched back on the flat for now.
Hong Kong Island is a consistent sort but on all his placed efforts he looks weighted upto his best and needed first run last year.
Jeu De Vivra has a good record around here with 3 from 4 here. She may still have a little more to offer but is 7lb higher than last win and a slight concern she hasnt come back in the same form based on 2 efforts so far this year, fibresand possible excuse last time out but has something to prove for now with ground starting to perhaps get a little bit quick.
Getabuzz was last seen finishing 2nd behind Jeu De Vivre over CD and is now in reciept of 9lb for 4 lengths which may well be enough to turn that form around but yard very hit and miss currently and gone very quiet over last few days and needed the run last year.
How anyone can have Marhaba Malyoon as a 3/1 favourite in their book is beyond me, he won a maiden as a 2yr old on debut and that form got a very shakey look to it with the 2nd failing to win. Drop in the deep end last year in Derby Trial at Lingfield and then the Derby itself but hard to be confident about on handicap debut having been off the track so long and all racing has been done on fast ground and can only be watched at this sort of price.
Sprit Of A Nation might be worth taking a risk on based on the fact he raced only 3 days ago, that was his seasonal debut (had run over hurdles over the winter without any success) he stayed on very strongly and should be well suited to the extra furlong here and extra stamina required here and remains on a good mark based on his best form having won off a mark as high as 80 off just 75 today.

1pt win Spirit Of A Nation 7/1 pp

5.45 Hamilton
Just a brief one, Pinball is a horse that continues to frustrate me he clearly has plenty of ability and is very much all about speed but he can be very quirky and throw away his races at the start. Yard appear in good form and is on a workable mark if ready to go after winter. Won fresh year before last and handles cut in the ground and with useful apprentice jock taking off 3lb he may cause a small upset in this poor and wide open handicap.

0.5pt e/w Pinball 14/1 bet365

Selection For 3rd March Musselburgh

5.35 Musselburgh
This is a weak affair and not hard to reservation about most of these based on what they have shown most recently.
See The Storm is a little bit hit and miss and only one win to his name but Hanagan an eye catching booking in a weak field, not ideal ground conditions so slightly off putting.
Dunseverik looks very short in the market based on what he has achieved to date, still a maiden after 13 starts and two dismal runs when last seen, Fibresand possible excuse latest as has had 4 starts on surface and shown very little.
Garstang was another that was very short in the overnight market at 6/4 and wasnt surprised to see him drift out to 11/4 which I feel is still plenty short enough. Has been running well on AW throughout winter, never been quite so good on turf and therefore turf mark some 17lb below last AW winning mark. Ran too bad last time out to be 100% true so clearly has to bounce back from that aswell as proving ground with cut suits as all turf wins have come on fast ground and a long time ago! So looks vunerable.
Last night Whats For Pudding was priced at 10/1 which was a ridiculous price. She handles cut in the ground and after some disappointing efforts on AW when last seen (yet to prove handles AW surface) has now dropped to a mark just 2lb higher than last win over CD and doesnt look overweighted in a field like this. She may also get a vital soft lead in this field and she is the only out and out front runner and should go well aslong as she is ready for this on seasonal debut!

2pt win Whats For Pudding 10/1 bet365 (now best priced 5/1 VC)

2 Selections for 1st May

8.05 Kempton
Ganas is lightly raced and open to improvement but hasnt been seen since held over CD last year but could improve more this summer but worry has to be wide draw in this field and other front runners temper enthusiasm.
Sutton Veny goes well here 4 from 7 and shaped well after meeting trouble in running on seasonal reappearnace at Windsor, riding style is one that can catch him out sometimes and still 2lb above last winning mark and track hasnt really suited hold up sorts recently.
Last Soveriegn is another front runner but again drawn out wide and stable appear to have gone a little quiet recently and this mark has always proved beyond him.
Sulis Minerva looked a horse to keep on the right side having won twice on the AW in the winter, not an easy ride and looked very ungamely in the final of the sprint series at Lingfield off this mark. Not disgraced on turf recently but this requires more and off a 9lb higher mark than her last win.
Would be no surprise to see Hatta Stream go well returned to the AW polytrack surface and is 2 from 4 around here, proved consistent throughout the winter although became hard to win with in general.
For me the top weight in this race offers plenty of value. We Have A Dream has a nice draw for a front runner and should he get a soft lead he could be very hard to beat with a recent run now behind him and easily excused. Has dropped to his last winning mark and has won over CD! Yard have also been running to form including a winner and a 2nd with their last runners so should go well at a price.

1pt e/w We Have A Dream 16/1 lads

9.05 Kempton
I wrote this about Methayel last time out;

Methayel is of interest from a yard that had a very quiet season last year clearly something wasnt right in the yard but she did buck that trend when winning 2 mile handicaps at Brighton shaped reasonably well on all weather debut when last seen off a 4lb higher mark, could be better suited to this downhill finish around here and may just have a little more to give yet for yard who have had a winner recently on the back of a break so should go well.

Only lost out by a nose that day, she showed a huge amount of guts to battle on to the line against another inform rival, she has been given a 2lb higher mark today but she should strip fitter for the run and Kempton track should suit her better than Kempton. She is now 6lb above last winning mark but could easily have more to give with yard going slightly better than they did last year.

2pt win Methayel 7/2 lads

3 Brief Selections For Saturday 28th April

3.30 Ripon
Just the 7 runners in this staying handicap and it will really be testing race on ground descibed as soft/heavy in places with more rain expected!
It might be worth taking a risk on My Arch who is a real stout stayer who stays a lot further than this so wont mind this turning into a mud bath. Ran well over hurdles this winter including a win before slightly disappointing when last seen but has gone well fresh in the past and not impossibly handicapped having won off a 1lb lower mark last year and has won here before.

1pt win My Arch 8/1 bet365

5.10 Ripon
Highland Warrior isnt getting any younger but has started this season in great form, not given the best ride last time out having not been covered up like he normally is and should get a very good tow into this race given how many front runners in the field. Although did win on fast ground last year he is better known for his mud loving trait and has 2 wins over CD here aswell and he has now dropped to 3lb below his last win and should this all fall apart he could easily pick things up in the final 200yards!

1pt win Highland Warrior 5/1 VC

7.10 Doncaster
Northside Prince hasnt always convinced he handles testing conditions but he does stay further than this and has looked as if he could still have some improvement left in him yet off this sort of mark. Shaped well on seasonal debut before clearly needing the run just tiring at the end but was still only beaten 1/2length, McDonald takes over from apprentice and if he does come on for the run should easily be in the first 3 if ground isnt a problem aswell.

1.5pt e.w Northside Prince 12/1 bet365

1 Selection for Epsom 25th April

3.55 Epsom
The turf season has come to a bit of a wet spell and certainly dampers my enthusiasm at this time of year given horses come here fresh and on testing ground results can be a little hard to predict.
A chance is taken on Resurge who’s course form sticks out like a sore thumb in this field with 3 wins from 6 starts and the other 3 have resulted in a 5th and 2 2nds. Failed to show much at back end of last year but tumbled in the handicap to 4lb below last winning mark over CD and was 2nd in this same race last year of a 1lb higher mark and ground no concern having won on soft ground here in the past he should go very well with the stable making a very good start to the season!

1pt e/w Resurge 7/1 pp