Evening folks
Two further races for Saturday (Nothing more to come)
15:28 Ripon
FURZIG – 1 Pt Win @ 14/1 generally
Looks very interesting having dropped to a mark 83, hi s last winning one with several positive stats to back up his chance!
He 4 wins and a 3rd place from 5 attempts off a mark of 83 or lower over today’s distance, with the 3rd an unlucky effort on unsuitably soft ground!
He has a cracking turn of foot so it’s no surprise he is 3 wins from 6 in fields of this size. He is a perfect 1 from 1 over C & D and has also won twice from 4 attempts on his 2nd start of the season after a disappointing pipe-opener, like at York LTO, where he made a nice move before weakening. His last winning jockey is back on board so I expect a bold showing against these who look relatively pace less 2 milers IMO (except unexposed 3 year old at the foot of the weights) Worth chancing.
16:01 Ripon
GARDEN OASIS – 1 Pt Each way @ 12/1 4 places generally
Caught my eye in a strong race at York earlier in the season, he is handicapped to WIN this! Loves today’s C & D on today’s forecast Good ground where he boasts an impressive 3 wins from 6 runs, 4 places! and also 2 wins and a narrow defeat (this race last season off a mark of 80) from 3 attempts!
He disappointed LTO in a Class 2 at York, a race where he paid for taking on the leader, but he has been dropped a generous looking 4lbs for that effort to a mark of just 78 so I feel he really ought to go close from stall 1 on Saturday!
14:21 Newbury
AURIFEROUS – 1 Pt Win @ 11/1 generally
This 4 year old is a model of consistency and was just beaten by a very, very well handicapped Henderson hot-pot over C & D four runs back. There was 3 & 1/2 lengths gap back to the 3rd, Inchicore, that day, who won a Class 2 handicap cosily on her next outing.
Andrew Balding has a cracking record at this course and a 21% Win SR when booking Hayley Turner to do the steering, who is also two narrow defeats from just the two rides on our fellow. A prominent racer, tactics that play well here, he can go very well from the foot of the weights against some much older, exposed rivals.
14:55 Newbury
GREAT AMBASSADOR – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 20/1 4 places generally
SAINT LAWRENCE – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 28/1 (Boost to 31/1) William Hill 4 places, 25/1 Skybet 5 places, 25/1 4 places generally
Both tipped at Royal Ascot, Great Ambassador was my horse from last year and one to follow, was badly undone by a lack of a run/draw. Needs to leave that well behind, behind but he was rapidly improving before that and given another chance for his in form stable.
Saint Lawrence ran a good race at Ascot and had previously gone very close at Newmarket in A Group 3. He loves this Berkshire track and has yet to finish out of the frame in 3 runs to date (form figures 1,3,2) so he too can be another shot with both horses being very big prices.
15:14 Market Rasen
FRANCKY DU BERLAIS – 1 Pt Win @ 7/1 generally
Bolted up in this very race last year, he finds himself just 2lbs higher despite carrying 12 stone, a sign that this years renewal is significantly weaker than last’s. James Bowen gets a great tune out of him and is back aboard for the 1st time in 9 runs since that bloodless victory! Should go very close for a trainer who targets this meeting exceptionally well!