Plenty of interesting racing today, notably [for me] the Silver Bowl at Haydock which, like last week's London Gold Cup, is usually worth watching, but not a lot of betting material and stakes will remain modest.
H 1.50 - The ground has come for Vadream but the ground itself is dictating that stakes are kept very modest. Australian sprinters tend to be better than ours so Asfoora demands respect but he’s more used to running on faster ground. Live In The Dream is probably the most solid runner but this is his seasonal debut. The one I’m going to take a chance on to small stakes is Flora Of Bermuda as per the longshot thread.
H 3.30 - Solent Gateway (20/1 taken) is 6lbs lower than when a close third in a £100k handicap last summer. That was on fast ground but he does have older form on soft and good AW form on ‘slow’ ground. It’s a risk, but Murphy is 42% and 68% first four finishes for the trainer this season so I have to be hopeful.
G 3.10 - I’m not sure what happened to Get Shirty last week. I watched the race and the winner came from well back, making me think it must have been a fast pace but sectionals say quite the opposite. Maybe a stronger pace here will help him a bit more. Adjuvant was on my radar at Newmarket last week but was pulled due to the fast ground. This should be more to his liking. All of them will probably need to go up the ratings to get into the big summer mega-handicaps so I expect them to be trying. I'm sticking with Get Shirty and saving with Adjuvant.
Y 2.45 - Hiya Maite is worth chancing as per the longshot thread. A lot of these will probably be aiming at the Dash next week but the entries for that aren’t out yet so we don’t know, and Hiya Maite could be one. There’s probably at least four handicapped to win this today so it could be a hot race if they’re all trying. They’re all backable prices too so I've done so (the others are Manila Scouse, Copper Knight and Rabaah), with Rabaah for cover.
Y 3.20 - This is quite valuable for a fillies-only G3 race so I thought I’d check it out as they’re likely to be trying. Marie’s Rock could have a shout if she can translate her hurdles form on her Flat debut but it’s a bit of an ‘if’. Trevaunuance went up to 110 for a big run in the G1 Preiss von Europa in Cologne last back-end and would have a shout on that form. River Of Stars, though, looks the progressive type and her trainer excels with fillies and mares so it’s easy to see why she heads the betting. I don’t think I’d want to look beyond those three but won't bother with a bet.
Ch 4.05 - Baradar is understandably favourite but I have two rated higher so have backed both: Boardman (7/1) and Paws For Thought (10/1).
Be lucky, everyone.