Saturday 21st April 2018

I was really impressed with Bombyx today even though he didn’t win. He travelled powerfully into the race and should come on for the run. I’d expect him to improve when upped to a mile and a half. Enable was beaten in this race last year so I’m not giving up just yet. On to tomorrow...

6.15 Nottingham

Chesterfield is well fancied for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr tomorrow, but the selection is his half-brother, Camden Town, who runs at Nottingham. This is one of my riskier picks from the handicappers to follow and he may be a long-term project given his breeding! It is positive that Roger Fell's horses have been running well recently and promising apprentice Lewis Edmunds takes the ride. There are some top yards represented in this race so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him run well without winning. The market is likely to be very informative.

Godolphin bred and sold to Roger Fell before seeing a racecourse. This horse may have been written off too early, as is often the case with plenty of well-bred horses. Camden Town was well beaten behind the mighty impressive Without Parole on his third start. Although he was soundly beaten, he did show some signs of ability and is almost certain to be better at three than at two. Camden Town is a half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Chesterfield and may be worth risking in middle distance handicaps off a low mark.

0.5 pts each-way CAMDEN TOWN (33/1 Bet365)

A couple of other horses to mention that caught my eye over the winter. The first is Highland Sky who runs in the 4.20 at Newbury.  He was an expensive purchase by Camelot. Three of his five half-brothers produced RPRs over 90 and their optimum trip was a mile and a half. He looked slow and green on his first two starts over a mile and the extended mile and a furlong at Wolverhampton so the step down to a mile tomorrow is not certain to suit.  Tomorrow may just be another educational experience and he will do better in handicaps once stepped up in trip.

The second is Corgi who runs in the 4.55 at Newbury. He is a big scopey colt who shaped with promise in his first two starts and looks like he’ll improve as a three-year-old. He ran right to the line on second start at Nottingham when finishing second behind Msayyan, who unfortunately didn’t do himself justice in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket earlier this week. Sir Michael Stoute’s horse in this race could be anything but I think Corgi has an each-way chance and is available at 12/1.