Saturday 26th May 2018

Not a great day for my selections today, the total is down to +14.75 pts

16.10 Curragh

Symbolization is one of my dark horses for the season. He needs to improve significantly on what he has achieved to date if he is to make the frame here and I think 14/1 is too short so won’t be advising a bet.

Symbolization (Charlie Appleby)

Sire – Cape Cross. Dam – Yorkshire Lass

By the excellent sire Cape Cross, whose progeny progress well. The dam has won over a mile and a half and two miles one furlong so I would expect Symbolization to be able to race over middle distances as a three-year-old. He was strongly fancied on debut in a Newmarket maiden where he ran very respectably in second behind the 99-rated Vintager. He didn’t quite have the pace of the winner, which isn’t surprising given his breeding. He pulled three lengths clear of Chilean, who ran well in an excellent renewal of the Racing Post Trophy. Symbolization built on that debut run next time when beating Glendevon at Kempton. He is a big colt who will make a three-figure horse this season.

19.50 Salisbury

This selection is from my handicappers to follow and is certainly not a strong fancy. Master Grey won a 3 runner handicap last time out in bottomless ground over 1 mile 6 and faces different conditions tomorrow. Powerful Society is the interesting alternative after a striking run last time.

90,000 GNS yearling, brother to the useful dual listed winner, Carnachy. Has shown signs of ability on his first three runs before being gelded. The first was over 6f at Nottingham where he was both outpaced and green before starting to understand his job late on to pass a few horses. He was able to run up with the pace on his second start before fading and then being badly squeezed and hampered. His third run looked very much like an ‘educational’ run, never troubling the leaders and given a hands and heels ride. Master Grey definitely has ability and will only be able to show his best when upped in trip. His opening mark looks quite lenient.

1 pt win MASTER GREY (11/2 general)

An eyecatcher over the winter was Caradoc who runs in the 1.45 at Chester. He was an expensive purchase who travelled nicely on his only start to date in what looks a decent race where the winner, Highbrow ran well in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood today. My only concern would be if he possesses the speed to win this. He looks a big strong horse who gets 6lbs off two rivals ahead of him in the betting and I fancy him to beat them and is probably worth a bet at 7/2 (Bet 365, BetVictor).