3.05 – I think a few of these could be quite smart and the two at the top of the market are drawn close together so I expect them to have a good ding dong late on. My preference is for PERSIAN FORCE who has looked the ultimate professional in two starts to date and it’s very easy to warm to those sort of two year olds. Richard Hanson hasn’t hidden his admiration for this horse and he knows the time of day when it comes to two year olds so I’m inclined to side with him here.
3.40 – I’ve put a few big prices up today as I think there is plenty of each way value to be had and if one does pop in we are laughing. The flying filly WINTER POWER is the selection in this race as I think she is too big a price in comparison to her ability. They are going to go some here and she will more than likely be on the front end but she is able to sustain the gallop as proven numerous occasions last year. Her reappearance at Haydock was nothing more than a prep run and I have no doubt she will be spot on for this race.
4.20 – Again this race could be all about the favourite but I think ANGEL BLEU is a little too big for a Group 1 winner. He was too keen on reappearance but still finished close up in a decent race but I expect him to put that run behind him here. He was a very useful two year old and that form would see him placed here at the very least so at 40/1 I’m inclined to take a punt on him.
5.00 – This race looks a bit of a minefield, as always, but I don’t understand why COLTRANE is such a big price given how well he ran at Chester last time out. If it wasn’t for the eventual winner he would have been a good winner of a competitive handicap and if he hit the front slightly later he may still have won. Callum Hutchinson takes a handy 5lb off today and if he can deliver him at the right time today I think he could be a major player.
5.35 – Without sounding like a broken record, I can’t understand why NEW MANDATE is freely available at 20/1 here. A proven group performer has been shaping as if this step up in trip is exactly what he needs now. He won cosily here over a mile earlier in the season before bombing out in the Lockinge but that run is easily excused in my view. He will appreciate the calmer waters today back down to Listed class and I expect him to run a big race at a tasty price.
6.10 – The favourite is probably a group horse in a handicap here but at 2/1 I can watch him win unbacked. There are a few at a price which could be worth following but the most interesting one is potentially DANEHILL KODIAC who is potentially thrown in on his old form. He had a couple years out which would obviously dampen your expectations of him but he ran with plenty of zest here on his return only tiring late on. He has been aimed at this race since and with the advantage of bottom weight I can see him outrunning his lofty odds.
