Saturday 28th April 2018

Today’s selections in summary:

Spark of War – Pretty disappointing, but will give another chance.

Stephensons Rocket – Non-runner after the ground went against him.

Crystal Hope – Really impressive and won at 14/1. A nice run from Give and Take in second under a penalty.

Mirror Mirror – Travelled nicely into the race but drop in trip did not suit. Given an educational ride. Now qualifies for a handicap mark next time. Interesting.

Humble Gratitude – Well backed but ultimately disappointing.

Overall a successful day. Now for Saturday’s selections.

3.45 Haydock

I think Knighted is the right favourite based on his useful second run at Nottingham, where the first three have all stepped up on their effort since. Moxy Mares was quite unlucky in his two-year-old runs and has been crying out for a step up to 1 mile. This race doesn’t have great depth so I think he is overpriced, though he does have the tendency to be a little slow from the starting stalls. Of those at bigger prices, Finnion Fox is interesting at 18/1. The handicapper has put him down 3lbs for a run over an unsuitable 6f on handicap debut at Pontefract as a two-year-old. He was quite an expensive purchase (his dam sire is notably Pivotal), so more will be expected as a three-year-old.

By Motivator and out of a listed-placed sprinter in France, Moxy Mares only cost 16,500 euros as a yearling. He made a very promising debut at Doncaster where he was slowly away but stayed on very well to finish third. Four horses have come out of that race and won since. Moxy Mares then ran too bad to be true on the all-weather next time, where he did not look comfortable and didn’t suit the tight bends. He went back to Doncaster for his final run, which I think was most impressive of the three. He was held up in a slowly run race and ran on to finish third, best of the held-up horses. After these three runs he was gelded and put away for the season, probably with his three-year-old career in mind. His mark isn’t the most lenient but his third run is encouraging and the progeny of Motivator do progress well.

1 pt win MOXY MARES (10/1 William Hill)

7.15 Doncaster

Quite an interesting race for the grade. Casima is the favourite who saw out the trip very well last time. The handicapper may be slowly starting to catch up with her so I am looking to take her on.  Nuits St Georges in interesting; he ran respectably in his three juvenile starts, notably when second on debut to Dubhe, who comfortably won a handicap off 90 at Sandown earlier.  Candidate is always going to make a better three-year-old but the selection is from my handicappers to follow. Camden Town ran well enough last week at Nottingham and is always going to need time and experience. I think he will come on for that run and a step up in trip again will suit. The handicapper put him down 2lbs for that run, although he doesn’t get a 3lbs apprentice jockey allowance this time.

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.

1 pt win CAMDEN TOWN (16/1 Paddy Power)

(This selection was 25/1 at around 6pm)

Elsewhere there isn’t much that catches my eye. It might be worth having a small each-way play on Via Via in the 2.45 at Leicester. I always thought the Lincoln would be strong this year and it’s already starting to look that way. Via Via was quite unlucky that day and showed plenty of speed so the step down to 7f shouldn’t pose any problems. He has plenty to do on ratings, but he is lightly raced and connections have always thought a lot of him.  He was a bigger price last night but 20/1 available this morning seems reasonable.