Author: Paul Davidson

The heavy downpours overnight have made the ground unseasonably soft at Newbury. Old favourite Withhold runs in the 2m Marsh Cup, and on his day he would certainly smash this field. The 2017 Cesarewitch winner can go well fresh, but having burst a blood vessel prior to competing in the…

Another competitive looking renewal of the Wokingham and Frankie Dettori’s mount dominates the top of the market. But, I can’t have Danzeno at 7/1 with him carrying a penalty for his recent run and him generally being a little less reliable as he gets older. Also towards the top of…

Ten Sovereigns is a worthy favourite for the Commonwealth Cup on day 4 of Royal Ascot. With Frankie Dettori stealing the show on Thursday, there is every chance Ryan Moore will do something similar on Friday with three short-priced chances. The jolly clear didn’t see out the mile in the…

It’s set to be bottomless conditions at Haydock come Saturday afternoon and that requires us to take a closer look at some real course specialists. Danzeno stormed back to form last time for his first win in nearly two years and he is favourite for this at 3/1. He looks…

A typically competitive renewal for this three-year-old handicap with several horses holding leading claims. There is plenty of reason to think that Politicise can improve for the step up in trip here having plugged on well in both his starts over a mile this season. But he has been well…

The Investec Mile Handicap raced on Oaks day has a wide-open look with the betting starting at prices of 7/1 currently. Hors De Combat ran a blinder on his reappearance run back in the UK and could run a big race for each-way punters once again at a nice price.…

Part of the undercard to the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday features the Group 2 Greenland Stakes won by Merchant Navy last year for Coolmore. O’Brien enters St. Patricks Day for his first start of the season having failed to improve as a three-year-old. He isn’t the…

The Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap tends to produce Group-level performers and there could be a couple of special horses lining up in this again. Recent winners have included the likes of Time Test and Cannock Chase, with the latters connections running an exciting prospect in the shape of…

There’s a decent looking fillies Group 3 race after the feature Oaks and Derby trials on Saturday. Pretty Baby is the current 9/4 favourite for William Haggas. She looked highly progressive last season, which culminated in a Group 3 win at Goodwood in August. She did well on that occasion…

In contrast to the lead-up to the 2000 Guineas being raced on Saturday, the ante-post betting market for the 1000 Guineas has lacked a dominant figure. In fact, current favourite Qabala was only promoted into 3/1 market leader off-the-back of her taking performance a fortnight ago at Newmarket. Qabala has…