A usual Saturday’s fare with a feast of top class racing today at Haydock, Newmarket and York including the Royal Ascot bound Limato who puts his 100% record on the line in the Sandy Lane Stakes at the Merseyside track this afternoon.
You can be nothing but be impressed with the way that this Henry Candy trained 3 year old has taken to his racing and I fully expect him to win again today and although his odds are a little short from my usual betting perspective I can’t resist having a wager on him and also putting him in a straight forecast with Mattmu who is a clear second best on my system ratings and will hopefully follow the selection home!
If the Limato race throws up a short priced favourite then the total opposite can be said for the 2.55 at York the Titanbet.co.uk Spring Sprint where a field of 20 seasoned campaigners do battle over the minimum Knavesmire trip.
As the betting suggests this is very competitive and this is borne out by my ratings with a number of runners very closely rated indeed. I am a big fan of Captain Dunne who has done me a favour or two in the past and is running very well at present albeit it in lesser company and whilst I expect another good run from him today this rise in class may be a little too much and I don’t think he will be quite good enough to win this.
Green Door is another one that I like and scores a good system rating; he generally has been plying his trade in better company than this although this said last time out he run a promising third in the grade over the minimum trip at Newbury. He has the headgear back on today which he has run well in in the past and I am sure he will be involved in the finish.
Wilbeme is an interesting runner; she had a great campaign last season winning a couple of races and made a promising reappearance here at York last time out. That run would have put her a strip fitter and I think there is also more improvement to come and she is a big danger to all.
However I am narrowly going to side with the Eric Alston trained Red Baron who earns top rating from me and is in fine form at present. Yes he is creeping up the weights and this is certainly a very open race but he won with a little bit in hand in this grade at Thirsk last time out which suggests there is more to come. The claimer Neil Farley obviously gets on well with the horse and takes off a valuable 3lbs and I am therefore hoping for a winning run at a decent price.
This said as I write this piece I see that there has been some money about for Red Baron but the 8/1 which is currently available is still a fair price and is the one that will be carrying my money.
A couple of other horses that I think will run well today include Alfred Hutchinson in the 1.45 at York and Talmada in the 2.00 at Haydock.
I also think that the 16/1 about Dashing Star in the 3.20 at Newmarket is on the generous side, yes the horse has a bit of an attitude and hasn’t won in an age but he is certainly on a winnable mark and in my book is worth chancing to run in to a place at those odds.
Selections
3.45 York Limato 2 points win evens or better
3.45 York Limato to beat Mattmu 1 point straight forecast
2.55 York Red Baron 1 point win 8/1
3.20 Newmarket Dashing Star 0.5 point each way 16/1
