No excuses for Mujaamil, who doesn't look any great shakes on that evidence (unless he'd prefer a sounder surface), ran alright to be third, but he had his chance and was left behind by the first two.

Auspicion won today George

So too Adventureman, Stevie

You gotta larf, eh?

Hard to bear with those two last night George I know you can't say whether you backed them now (hope you did) but they'd have been handy for the p+l.
If you didn't back them take a bit of solace that in reality many times out of 10 the 2nd's in both those races would've won on other days/less unlucky runs/against biases.
Haven't fully kept up to date with everything as have been a bit ill again but trying to bounce back now with my driving gloves and sneakers on hand to get me round a few betting? establishments most mornings.
All the best

Kopassus is my nap mackies with Majestic Manannan a danger in the first time visor GL

Harlequeen, 1pt EW @ 25-1, The Oaks

I've decided to add another selection to my Oaks ante-post portfolio (by 'eck chuck, that sounds posh!).

Having impressed when winning on her debut at Goodwood on her sole start as a juvenile, Harlequeen caught the eye on her reappearance in a valuable sales race over 10f at Newmarket against mainly male opposition, shaping as though a stiffer test would show her in a better light; that form could be working out better, but Harlequeen again showed herself to be a very useful filly when finishing fourth in the Musidora, when looking like she would have gone second in just a few more strides, again strongly suggesting a step up to 12f will be in her favour.

It has to be said Harlequeen hasn't looked the easiest, having showed a tendency to race keenly and lug left, but she's had a spin round Epsom in preparation for this and has the right man on board in SDS to straighten her out.

Harlequeen represents the So Mi Dar form, who obviously would have been strong in the betting for this but for injury, and although no match for that filly at York, she left the impression she would have got closer the further they went, so at 25-1, a chance is taken Harlequeen can at least press for a place at Epsom.

fav, oaks.

[b]District Attorney, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 4.30 Redcar
[/b]
Backing long-standing maidens who were beaten the length of a tattie field over hurdles just a few days ago, sounds like a crackpot idea, but District Attorney is of a little interest back on the Flat over a C/D he has twice run well over in the past.

The two runs in question were back in the summer of 2014 when splitting a couple of unexposed 3YOs on the first occasion, and then staying on well for a never-nearer third on the second occasion; he's only been seen on the Flat four times since, each time in class 5 company and this looks more realistic back down in grade.

He hasn't shown much in two hurdle starts recently, though on his latest start he was still in contention for a place until two out over a  trip (3m) round Hexham that probably stretches him, and at least there will be no complaints fitness-wise here.

GL with D A George,think my best chance of a decent priced winner is Dubai Dynamo 425L hopefully they'll go a good enough clip.

Thought Mininggold could outrun it's price in the 215 but far too many in that race to have any confidence

cheers George still lost on the race

aye DD had no excuses given the gallop,he just doesn't look as fast anymore
The horse I was very confident on last time out King's Currency runs tomorrow 450R didn't handle the ground last time but I stand by the time of that Thirsk maiden the time before,Faheys was an eyecatcher last time and will be a danger but might be worth a few quid at double figures hopefully

Crossbar twice Cracking pick with D A haven't seen the races how did it go?

WD George

Inshaa, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 3.20 Redcar

This is one I selected lto at Wetherby when I wrote:

Ex-Sir Michael Stoute trained horse who caught the eye over a trip (6f) possibly on the sharp side at Wolverhampton on his debut for Michael Herrington towards the end of last year; two runs since have been relatively disappointing, but one was at Southwell (not disgraced in third) and the other at Chelmsford over 6f (track and trip might not have suited).

Inshaa is returning from a 2 month break here and the draw has not been kind, but he may have benefited from a gelding operation since last seen, and no surprise if this well bred, scopey sort, comes good for his new yard at some point.

He shaped well at Wetherby, the race not going his way from a wide draw, but he again caught the eye with his finishing effort after not having the best of runs; hopefully he's come on for that fitness-wise and the draw shouldn't be an issue on this occasion.

Good luck with Almuhalab, Fl.

I see our old friend is dropping back to 6f tomorrow, with a visor on

Looks like half the field are out of the handicap

A few speculative ones here!

Tred Softly, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 2.50 Redcar

I noted Tred Softly at Wolverhampton in early March on his second start, when shaping nicely over a trip that's like to be inadequate given his stout breeding (By **** and a half-brother to 12f - 2m winners); following a further run for a mark, he went handicapping off 58 and his handicap debut at Beverley, when weak in the betting, was underwhelming, finishing last of the 11 runners (and behind four of today's rivals).

Clearly he has a bit to prove and he's very weak in the betting again, but he may strip fitter for that first run in two months, he steps up in trip to 14f, and gets first time headgear, so gets a tentative vote from the inside stall.

Ziggy Lee, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 4.20 Redcar

Lightly raced 10 year old who makes a little appeal at big odds on his return from a long absence; he's an old notebook horse who had caught the eye on his return from a long break at Newmarket in 2012, when looking unlucky not have finished a deal closer having been denied a clear run.

He returned from a break of over a year in 2013 when winning at Beverley, and although he failed to go well fresh off a break in 2014, he did go on to post some fair efforts in defeat.

This is clearly risky on his first run for a new trainer, and at the age of 10 who knows what ability remains, but there is a history of running well or winning off a prolonged absence, and as his mark has dropped to a potentially favourable one, a chance is taken at the price.


Straduff, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 4.00 Leicester

I noted this horse on his debut at Brighton last season when he looked green but caught the eye with how well he hit the line, and the form of that race worked out well with the three who finished ahead of him going on to win races and showing a fair level of form; however, that debut was in May and he wasn't seen again until reappearing on the AW in February, and the four runs on synthetics have been disappointing (albeit a couple were for a mark, and there seemed to be an issue on the home turn when well backed on his handicap debut at Lingfield).

There are a couple of big negatives regarding his chance today - stable form (just 2 winners from 84 runners this year) - and he's not well in on the adjusted figures, but at huge odds I'm going to give him a speculative vote back on turf and in the hope a 45 day break has done him good.

Compton Lady, 1pt EW @ 40-1, 5.30 Leicester

Compton Lady was noted on her nursery debut at Salisbury over 7f on soft ground last September, on a day when it looked an advantage to race against the stands' rail, and she did best of those who challenged away from it to finish fourth (had subsequent winners behind her); the way she shaped that day and the dam's side of her pedigree (half-sister to 11f winner and 2m2f hurdles winner) suggest she should be fine at longer trips.

The two runs since has been very disappointing and she has to prove what ability remains, but it could be she needs juice in the ground and rain is forecast for Leicester, so off a 7lb lower mark than at Salisbury, she gets a vote at rewarding odds.

St Hugh makes a fair point about there potentially being no pace on, but I don't know enough about the horse to assume that he has to be dropped out and presumably he was ridden that way at Wetherby because of his wide draw; so hopefully Lee will have him closer to the pace if they are crawling along and will let him roll on soon enough if need be.