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)
A couple I like today, and still waiting for my first winner … !
6.15 Musselburgh
The one who made most appeal here was the Jim Goldie trained KELPIE GREY. The 6yo ticks plenty of boxes to make him an each bet for me; he’s won twice at the track, over the trip and on the going. Paul Mulrenna gets on really well with him (14/3/8p), has run well last twice on his seasonal reappearances (a 1st and a 2nd most recently) and is on a very attractive being 7lbs lower than his last win.
KELPIE GREY // 0.5pt E/W @ 8/1 (Bet365) BOG
6.45 Musselburgh
And in the last there’s another each way play in the form of NORTHERN SPIRIT who is a fairly straight forward selection in so much as he has plenty going for him, from a good mark, in an open looking race. He’s been running with credit in better races than this on the turf previously and if he can get away with the rest of them (has dwelt on occasion) then for me he has a great each way chance.
NORTHERN SPIRIT // 0.5pt E/W @ 8/1 5 Places (William Hill) BOG
2.05 Yarmouth
Like the chances of DASHING DONKEY here. Three down-the-field runs over the winter but 9/0/2p in that sphere and much better on the turf with plenty of boxes ticked today; 6/2/4p at the track, won on both ground and at the trip, 11/4/7p on a straight course and jockey has won twice on him. Although this is his highest turf mark, he has done OK off 2lbs higher on the AW LTO and 60 shouldn’t be too much of a hindrance. With four places available I think he has a really strong each way chance.
DASHING DONKEY // 0.5pt E/W @ 17/2 4 places (Bet 365) BOG
I’m still waiting for my first winner of the flast season so I’m hoping one of these below can oblige today …
Three selections from up at Thirsk.
3.53 Thirsk
I’m taking a chance on TRAVIS in this one. Looking at the shape of the race I think the Geoff Harker trained 5yo could well go forward from his wide draw and get a very easy early lead. He’s not just a pace angle though and ticks many boxes, too; ground conditions ideal, on a workable mark, 223 at the trip and has won at the track.
TRAVIS // 0.5pt E/W 7/1 4 places (Coral) BOG
5.35 Thirsk
Not the greatest of races so I’m taking a swing at an outsider. MISS WILLOWS makes her seasonal reapperance today and has gone really well on her return in the past. As her Spotlight in the RP points out, she’s never won from a mark this high but this might just be the time to catch her, especially as she’s another front runner without many like minded rivals to take her on.
MISS WILLOWS // 0.25pt E/W @ 28/1 5 places (Bet365) BOG
6.10 Thirsk
Yorkshire Glory is looking for his 7th win on the bounce here, but back on turf I’m swerving him. I backed Juan Les Pins on his seasonal reappearance at Donny 2 weeks ago and he ran really well for second that day and gets another 3lbs off via an apprentice today. However, despite him being the most likliest winner for me, at 4/1 he looks mighty short and can’t back him at that price. At double those odds, I’m going to take a chance with LORD ABAMA whose all 3 turf wins have come over C&D, the last two of which were off the same or lower marks. Drying ground will only help and has won off a similar break before.
LORD ABAMA // 0.5pt E/W @ 8/1 5 places (Bet365) BOG
The blog is still waiting for it’s first winner, with Mission Command only managing third at Pontefract to make it 5 places out of 7 each way selections.
And its up the A1 from Pontefract to Catterick for some action on Wednesday.
3.23 Catterick
Taking a chance here with Mick Appleby’s WAY TO DUBAI. The 7yo doesn’t have the most attractive of profiles, with just 1 win from 38 starts, but he should strip fitter than plenty of his competitors today who look like they will need the run. Today also represents his first foray into class 5 company on the flat, some 21lbs lower than his highest OR. The return to 7f should be better for him and can hopefully be involved at the business end.
WAY TO DUBAI // 0.5pt E/W @ 12/1 4 places (Bet365)
5.05 Catterick
With 6/1 available at Bet365, I’m siding each way with Adrian Keatley’s FRANCISCOS PIECE in the penultimate race of the day. This is a significant drop in class for the 4yo who finished 2nd in the Redcar 2yo trophy in 2024 and was then pitched into very decent handicaps without much (any!) success. I’m hoping these shallower waters against inferior opposition will let us see him at his new level and can hopefully improve both his trainer and jockey’s excellent record at the track.
FRANCISCOS PIECE // 0.5pt E/W @ 6/1 (Bet365)
Don’t have too much time for write-ups this morning, but I’ve taken a look at the action from good old Ponte Carlo and found a single selection...
3.27 Pontefract
Despite the Jennie Candlish not saddling a winner at the course in 33 attempts, I’m siding with her MISSION CONTROL here. The 4yo gelding has been running well enough on the AW over winter without ever really landing a blow – just one placed effort from 5 attempts. Is now back on the turf and in a class 5 handicap for the very first time (all runs been in class 4s in better races) so hoping he can go well and maybe make it 34th time lucky for the yard.
MISSION COMMAND // 0.5pt E/W @ 11/1 (Bet365) BOG
No dice yesterday at Musselburgh. The one who eventually won looked a likely sort but was too short for me. That’s life/racing.
Onto Bath today where there’s four low quality races that I’ve taken a look at.
3.45 Bath
At the time of writing Twilight Madness heads the market but is just 1/15 on the flat and mighty short at 2/1. Call Time and Hidden Verse make appeal too, but they and the rest of the field making their seasonal reapperances could – looking at their records fresh – very well need the run. One who shouldn’t be inconvinienced by his time off the track is DANDY DINMONT who has been freshened up and has had success from similar breaks in the past. Won on his only previous run in class 6 and is 1lb lower than that today.
DANDY DINMONT // 0.75pt Win @ 9/2 (Bet365) BOG
4.55 Bath
Despite Risen Again been the perfectly named horse for an Easter Sunday, I’m going to take a chance on a 14 race maiden in the shape of THE HARE RAIL, instead (also not a bad Easter themed name!). He is 0/14 which is obviously a big concern, but has been running pretty well of late including a fast finishing 5th LTO. Unsurpisingly, is now on a career low mark and that could just eek out the extra length or so of improvement needed.
THE HARE RAIL // 0.5pt E/W @ 15/2 4 places (Bet365) BOG
5.25 Bath
Volendam heads the market in the first division of this race, and for those who are interested, that’s who Leeds United signed Robert Molenaar (The Terminator) from in 1997. Anyway, I shall be opposing the favroute with VILLALOBOS who has en equally patchy record and is 11/0/3p at the track but think he could be a real pace angle as I’m really struggling to see anyone who will go with him. Might just be good enough to hold on for a place, or go one better and become an Easter miracle for a trainer jockey combo who do well when combining (26/6/11p last year).
VILLALOBOS // 0.5pt E/W @ 11/1 4 places (Coral) BOG
5.55 Bath
No such pace angle in the second division of the last and this is a really bad race. Despite trying to find a bet, I’ve left this alone. I’m not sure any of them can win it.
NO BET