With Ballydoyle failing to land a blow on day one of the Royal Meeting, it would be tempting to write-off Aidan O’Brien’s runners. But as we all know class is permanent and he has plenty of opportunities to rectify the situation on day two. Rhododendron was one of his fancied…
Author: Paul Davidson
1pt win Ultimate Avenue @5/1, 14:35 Newmarket, Saturday
In the shadows of the Epsom meeting and prior to Royal Ascot, the racing calendar can feel a little thinner in terms of quality. But there is still plenty of competitive action this afternoon to get stuck into at the Rowley Mile. Eastern Impact has not had a victory since…
1.5pts win Century Dream @7/2, 15:10 Saturday, Epsom
Arod won this race back in 2015 and looked to have been laid out for this for David Simcock before his withdrawal. The seven-year-old came back to form last time out in a Listed contest and would have fancied his chances, but the fact that he is a non-runner could…
1pt win Medburn Dream @5/1, 14:35 Epsom, Friday
We are not prepared to go against Cracksman in the Coronation Cup and Ajman King may have a lenient penalty for an impressive recent victory and could go in again for Roger Varian. So we turn our attention to the 14:35 Investec Mile Handicap which looks a little more open…
0.75pts each-way Cotubanama @9/1, 14:00 Epsom, Friday
The Woodcote normally produces a couples of decent two-year-olds, and Marie’s Diamond is a worthy favourite for the in form Middleham Park Racing syndicate. He showed great promise to land a decent maiden on his debut before finishing a reasonable third in a conditions race over 6f at Newbury a…
1pt win Gilgamesh @9/2, 14:00 York, Saturday
So Beloved has been competing in better company and is expected to put in a decent enough showing off of top-weight whilst Eastern Impact also looks well-treated on his old form but both haven’t won for a while. Golden Apollo could appreciate the step back up in trip for Tim…
1pt each-way Communique @10/1, 15:00 Newbury, Saturday
It could be a cracking day for Andrea Atzeni, and Masaarr is likely to be extremely popular with punters in a day where we are massively on Addeybb. This Roger Varian chestnut-colt has looked a decent prospect on his four starts of which he has won two. The step up…
1pt each-way Keyser Soze @7/1, 0.75pts each-way Silent Attack @10/1,16:00 Ascot, Saturday
The flat racing season is now in full swing, and we have two selections for a mouth-watering handicap in the shape of the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. The draw has not thrown up an obvious pace-line with there being front-runners all over the track, so they may…
1pt each-way Blaklion @7/1, 0.5pt each-way Rathlin Rose @20/1,15:35 Sandown, Saturday
An entire season’s worth of preparation was wasted when BLAKLION was brought down at the first fence during the Grand National at Aintree a fortnight ago. He was strongly fancied off top-weight and it would have been a massive disappointment for connections seeing him depart so early. But with Blaklion…
1pt each-way Vicente @10/1, 0.75pts each-way Sizing Tennessee @16/1, 16:05 Ayr, Saturday
Paul Nicholls horses always come to the fore at this part of the season and I see no good reason not to be on VICENTE, who seeks to claim a historic treble of Scottish Grand National victories. He comes in to this race 4lbs higher than his winning mark last…