Pretty rubbish yesterday with the three selections finishing 4th, 7th and 5th. But the good news is there always another race …
5.00 Hamilton
A low class affair but one in which I’m siding with Ben Haslam’s SIR BENEDICT, a very consisitent sort who on good ground in class 6 handicaps has form figures of 31425. Digital and Until Dawn should ensure there’s a good gallop for him to aim at as he needs to be produced late. Haslam who trains from one of the most picturesque yards I’ve ever seen has had a couple of winners of late and Joanna Mason interestingy (to me, anyway!) has her first ride on him – the 34th jockey to do so! Might just fall into place for him today at a track he has a decent record at: 5123716.
SIR BENEDICT // 0.5pt E/W @ 13/2 4 places (SkyBet)
Ah, Guineas day! What a day to be alive. But my focus for the blog today is in Yorkshire …
3.55 Thirsk
Keeping this one very simple in the shape of KATS BOB who ticks a ton of boxes here. Ruth Carr’s 8yo is 3133 over 6f on GF ground and is 1lb lower than his last winning mark. He could well make all from a decent draw and looks an good each way bet to nothing.
KATS BOB // 0.5pt E/W @ 5/1 (Bet365) BOG
5.00 Thirsk
Not a single one of these has won in the month of May, and I’ve found it difficult to make a case for any of them, but I do think PENSION POT might be worth (another) each way to bet nothing. Only 4 starts to his name and only beaten 3 lengths by a subsequent winner LTO he gets the nod against this lot and hoping William Pyle can have a double here.
PENSION POT // 0.5pt E/W @ 5/1 (Bet365) BOG
8.02 Doncaster
I think MR COOL is overpriced here, and we’re getting double figure odds based on his recent form. However, all those runs have been on the AW where he is 0/11/4p and I’m hoping he’s a totally different proposition back on the turf where he is 12/2/5p. His 3 runs on turf as a 4yo resulte din form figures of 131 off marks of 77 (x2) and 72 and he’s now back in action here off 70 thanks to those AW runs. All best form on Good ground, and has only ran on GF twice and acquitted himself well finishing 4th both times so no real concerns there. Hoping for a decent run.
MR COOL // 0.5pt E/W @ 12/1 (Bet365) BOG
It’s the first of May, the sun is shining and there’s some brilliant racing on offer today from Ascot, Newmarket and Goodwood. And if all that doesn’t get you all excited for the next 4 months or so of flat action, you may as well give up.
With all that said, there’s just the one bet for me on here, and it’s in the 4.20 at Ascot.
4.20 Ascot
Top weights win flat handicaps more than their rivals and think ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS – top weight here – has a good chance in this. He has finished 2nd in his last 3 turf outings, all of them better races than this. Subsequently he is now off a career high mark but the return to good to firm ground (2112 in handicaps) can eek out some more improvement for this 5yo who can go well fresh (2nd on reapperance last term) for Gina Mangan who is 9/2/7p on him. Should be definitely in the shake-up from a decent draw.
ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS // 0.5pt E/W @ 10/1 BOG (Bet365) 5 places
The last day of April and the flat really is about to kick into action for the brilliant few months between the Guineas and the Ebor. We’re not quite there yet, though, so it’s over to Costa Del Redcar for a selection that may see me end the month in the black …
3.58 Redcar
I like the chances of Miss Rainbow but I’m concerned about the ground for her and fear it may be just a touch too firm (all wins on good). Beerwah is currently the favourite but for me at 15/8 is way too short for one who’s only 1/15 and that win was on soft. So the one I’ve landed on at a double figure price is ZUFFOLO for Michael Dods. The 6yo may not get his own way at the front of affairs and has been in real iffy form of late. But that does mean that when you take Rhys Elliot’s claim into account, he’s now lurking – by some way – on a career low mark of effectively 52. This is 5lbs lower than his last win on the AW, 10lbs better off than his last run over C&D and both 5lbs and 19lbs better off than his wins over C&D. Obviously there’s a huge chance – as there is with all these low grade races – that he just doesn’t fancy it, but he might just pop up today.
ZUFFOLO // 0.5pt E/W @ 12/1 (Paddy Power) BOG
Not had much time for the formbook over the last few days, but I’m at least bookending the working week with a couple of selections and you never know, one might be my first winner of the flat season …
1.40 Doncaster
This looks to be the sort of race where CANARIA QUEEN does her best work. On good or better, in class 6s over 5f in the last 2 years she is 3541172 which is some of the best form on offer here, albeit it’s a super competitive event. Tim Easterby has been in great nick the last couple of days and at double figure odds, this 6yo could go well and will surely benefit from the pipe opener LTO.
CANARIA QUEEN // 0.5pt E/W @ 14/1 5 places (Bet365) BOG
2.15 Doncaster
Another low grade affair and I should maybe have left it alone, but after going through it, I think YAFAARR is worth a bet. He may well have needed his run LTO (all form from breaks of 30 days or less) and that was only his second flat handicap – before that he’s finished a very close 3rd at Redcar. First time tongue tie goes on today and if that has an effect, then this 4yo looks to be open to improvement for Sam England who two places at Beverley yesterday so might just be coming into some form.
YAFAARR // 0.5pt E/W @ 18/1 5 places (Bet365) BOG
There’s some Yorkshire racing every day of the week this week, so lets see if I can’t find a winner or two.
3.12 Redcar
Perfidia looks to have a good chance here but would want bigger odds than 10/3 to get involved. So I’m going to take a chance on Fahey’s FAR AHEAD who despite form figures of 9066000 could have a say here. I’m happy to put a line through the 6000 figures as they were all on the AW this winter and he was beaten so far out of sight he sight I’m suggesting he hated the surface. I’m also willing to scratch his 906 finishes as although they were on the turf, they were also in much better races. So today, he’s contesting a class 6 handicap for the first time off a career low mark (21lbs lower than his best bit of form – 3L 6th at Thirsk) and from box 1 – which if he can get a lead like LTO, could be a big advantage. When I started writing this 15 minutes ago he was 16/1 but has since shortened to 10/1 so that’s what I’ll go with here. I wouldn’t take any shorter, personally. Obviously a big chance he’s just crap, but I’ll take it!
FAR AHEAD // 0.5pt E/W @ 10/1 4 places (Paddy Power)
It has been a rotten start to my flat season punting (currently -9.10), but April can always be dodgy so I’m carrying on with a smile on my face and there’s some decent action to get stuck into at Thirsk, one of my favourite small courses.
I’m putting this one up now as might not have time for any more tomorrow …
2.47 Thirsk
I backed LORD ABAMA on his seasonal reappearance LTO and I’m going to do so again and much of the same reasoning applies as it did then. This time though he’s out of apprentice company and effectively down a further 3lbs and he may well get the run of the race out in front. He would be a strong bet if the going was good to firm, but with 5 places generally available, I think he’s another great each way chance.
LORD ABAMA // 0.5pt E/W @ 9/1 5 places (Bet365)
I think Tony Carroll could have a decent day today, but for blog, just one selection for me …
5.20 Bath
Jack Morland’s Hunky Dory has an obvious big chance and should be close, but I’m going to have a go at MR LIGHTSIDE here who looks the classiest horse in the field. Spent the summer of 2024 contesting black type races, finishing 3rd in the Molecomb and then decent efforts at York and Donny. Struggled in class 2 handicaps as a 3yo off 3 figure marks and has then had a winter AW campaign that wasn’t sure to suit (8/0/1p on artificial surfaces). Back to turf today from a mark of 77, 22lbs lower than when running in class 2 handicap at Ascot 10 months ago. Mick Appleby has had a decent start to the season and this one should have a lively each way chance.
MR LIGHTSIDE // 0.5pt E/W @ 9/1 4 places (Paddy) BOG
3.45 Ripon
Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse kicks off it’s 2026 season today and in 3.45, Tim Easterby has won the race twice since 2019. His MISTER SOX seems to have a really solid each way chance here ticking plenty of boxes; 7/2/4p at the course, goes well fresh, ground and trip ideal, 4/2/3p in April and is 16/6/10p on an undulating course like Ripon. From what I can make out there should be plenty of pace for him to aim at and he should find this easier than recent assignments. The only real negative is his mark which ideally could do with being a couple of pounds lower, but he was half a length third off the same 79 he goes off today on his last run at the track in a class 2. Should be really competitive here.
MISTER SOX // 0.5pt E/W @ 17/2 5 places (Bet365) BOG
I also looked at the last race at Ripon and I couldn’t split the Harriet Bethell trained pair of Milteye and On The River here, as both have good chances. I’d also have given the old boy Garden Oasis, an each way chance here if it hadn’t been for the recent rain, but that has put me off. So just a watching brief in the race for me.
And still the search for a winner goes on. Not entirely surprising though as the average odds I’ve taken are 10/1 and I’ve only had 16 selections. That said, massive room for improvement, maybe starting today …
3.23 Leicester
SPRING BLOOM at around 7/1 appeals in this one making his first start for John Butler who is in good nick with a great record of 30/9/14p in the last 30 days. Back today off a shortish break after running on the AW (5/0/1p on there) and into a class 5 where he has a very decent record on the turf and has indeed won his last races off 6lbs higher. The usual ground and trip boxes are ticked are Darragh Keenan has plenty of experience on his back. Can hopefully get involved. No bet in the second division of this race.
SPRING BLOOM // 0.5pt E/W @ 17/2 BOG (Bet365)
4.22 Leicester
I backed MISSION COMMAND on his reappearance LTO and he gets the nod today again. I thought he ran well that day considering his starting position and finished really strongly to land third. Off the same mark today and I don’t think the drop in trip (has twice won at 5f so has got some speed) will be too much of a negative if he gets a better position today. Jennie Candlish is still in good form and has a fabulous record when turning them out within 7 days again (53/17/29p). Hopefully another winner for Darragh Keenan!
MISSION COMMAND // 1pt WIN @ 11/4 BOG (Bet365)