Jabbaar, 1pt win @ 9-4, 5.00 Ayr

Not best practice to be selecting one after missing the price, but there ya go

Jabbaar was making his debut for David Barron, having been bought out of Owen Burrows' stable for 22,000 guineas,  when catching the eye at Pontefract last month (1 mile). He finished behind Kiwi Bay that day, but that doesn't tell the whole story, as he was caught wide and then didn't get the clearest of runs before going on at the finish, and leaving the impression he will be winning races for his new yard. The form of that race is working out, with the 6th (Thaqaffa) and 7th (Zeshov) having won since.

He was a bit keen at Pontefract, so it's a concern to see blinkers applied (wore them once for previous yard), particularly as he's drawn on the outer here, while fast ground is a bit of a query, but he's given the vote for the minimum stake, having been dropped a pound by the assessor, and with Serena Brotherton booked.

Newstead Abbey has falling a fair way in the weights, being 25lb below his last winning turf mark and 6lb below his last AW winning mark, and he was having just his fourth start for his current handler Michael Herrington when the market seemed to predict a revival in form on his latest start with first-time blinkers applied over 7f at Wolverhampton, being sent off at just 4-1. However, things didn't go to plan, being caught wide and keen, then soon getting involved in a speed duel, which he got the better off and led turning into the straight, but his exertions took their toll inside the final furlong, where he faded to finish 6th, beaten 3l.

He hasn't had many chances on the AW, nor in class 5 handicap company, and while the removal of the blinkers may not be a positive as they did seem to rekindle his enthusiasm, it would appear he has fallen to a mark he can be competitive off, so with Jim Crowley taking over in the saddle, he gets the vote for one point.

Absolutely no excuses for Newstead Abbey who got a lovely run round the inside tracking the pace, briefly threatened to get involved and hit evens in the run, but then found disappointingly little.

Jabbaar was poor, the addition of blinkers looked a strange one to me based on the Ponte run where he raced enthusiastically and seemed to be running on when he got daylight. Keeping an open mind on this one for the time being.

2 pts lost on the day.

May Running Total
P/L : +22.75

Win stat: 4/21 (19%)
Place stat: 7/21 (33%)

Points staked so far: 34

Overall Running Total
P/L : +0.2

Win stat: 11/96 (11%)
Place stat: 28/96 (29%)

Points staked so far: 166
Points won on multiples: 3.25 (included in overall P/L)

I dread him selecting anything I fancy George, especially one I've been waiting on for a while.Sp's often fooked pretty early.

Good luck striding

Funnily enough, I recall Hugh putting PB up the day it ran at Southwell, as he thought it looked interesting on pedigree for the surface, though he acknowledged trip / absence could be issues.

They seemed to make a bit of use of it at Redcar, not given an overly hard time in the closing stages, shaped well I thought.

PB been backed into 6.0 from 9.0

GE from grease. I've backed Luxford in the 8.30 leic. A little unlucky lto, mark is very low and not had much racing. Looking at a couple of drifters there also, kali spera.

Good evening from greece

on hols

enjoy saddo and gl

Tuolumne Meadows, 1pt win @ 6-1, 5.55 Chelmsford

A bit on the tenatative side this as she's having to concede weigt-for-age to 3YOs who may be open to further improvement at the trip, particularly the odds-on favourite.

Tuolimne Meadows was unfortunate to run into a couple of useful sorts in 12f maidens at Kempton last season, a heavily-punted John Gosden-trained filly who was thought good enough to contest a Listed race on her next start, and then the 96-rated Moorside. She left the impression on each occasion, as she had done over a mile on her 2YO debut, that she stays quite well. She's a full sister to the 101-rated Tioga Pass (runner-up over 14f in Group 3 company) and a half-sister to the useful Circumvent, who also were both trained by Paul Cole.

Tuolumne Meadows disappointed on her final 3YO start over 12f at Kempton, but perhaps there was issue as she wasn't seen again  for eight months, and although she finished last of four on her reappearance and handicap debut (off a mark of 78) at Bath, 10f on firm ground was always likely to be on the sharp side for her and she didn't shape too badly in the circumstances.

She's off a little interest here now her stamina is tested more, with that pipe opener behind her, stepped up to 13.5f and back on the AW, with Adam Kirby booked and her stable among the winners (3-10 last 14 days).

Thursday

Extrasolar, 1pt win @ 7-1, 4.45 Catterick

Extrasolar was well held on his first two starts for Geoffrey Harker, but the last couple of runs have suggested he could be about to hit some form, at Newcastle on his penultimate start when not beaten far in a bunch finish in a race won by Art Collection, who would go on to win easily in a higher grade; and last time back on turf at Redcar over 6f, when tanking through the race and keeping on well after not getting the best of runs on possibly what wasn't the best part of the track to challenge on (Tommy G who also challenged on that part of the track and finished 4th, has since come out and won, while the winner Gin In The Inn has since sluiced up on his next start before just being pipped at Chester on Wednesday).

Extrasolar has dropped 10lb in the ratings since joining Geoffrey Harker from Amanda Perrett, which leaves him 11lb below his last winning mark, and 10lb below the mark he finished runner up off last August, so with the ground set to remain on the fast side and in his favour, he gets the vote in this race for "veterans".

Father McKenzie, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 3.55 Lingfield

Father McKenzie was having his first start for James Eustace when reappearing over 5f at Nottingham two starts back, and he didn't seem to be without market support, being backed into 12-1 from 33-1, but although he did best of those who raced close to the stands' rail, that was only good enough for 5th overall.

I'm not absolutely sure if there was a bit of a bias that day favouring those drawn low (first two home were drawn 1 and 2 in a field of 14), but it's interesting to note that the filly who raced hard up against the stands' rail in that race was Quench Dolly, who could only finish 8th, and she has since come out and bolted up at Leicester (albeit she might have had the draw in her favour this time).

Father McKenzie was stepped up in grade for his latest start over 6f at Doncaster and could make no impact, but he's of a little interest now eased back in grade, having been eased 2lb by the handicapper, with the possibilty that the Nottingham run might have been better than the bare result suggested.

See And Be Seen, 1pt EW @ 25-1, 5.35 Ascot

See And Be Seen isn't coming into this race in much form so a leap of faith is required, but that was also the case when he ran over this C/D last July in the Class 2 Brown Jack Handicap, finishing 3l fourth from 3lb 'wrong' behind a couple in Sea Of Heaven and Nakeeta who would go on to to place in valuable and competitive handicaps.

See And Be Seen has a bit to prove having run poorly on his latest start, but if the return to turf and this C/D in particular prompts a revival in form as it did the last time he raced here, then despite being 2lb 'wrong' on this occason, he looks fairly handicapped on that 'Brown Jack' form.

Ta PHS, unfortunately the other one wasn't able to hang on to a place after momentarily looking like he might. Oh well, no damage done on the day

10p R4 for Father McKenzie.

Cornborough, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 4.25 Nottingham

Cornborough could make no impression on his reappearance at Pontefract, but he was never in a good position as the race panned out, however he was noted hitting the line well; that was his first run on the Flat for over a year having generally been in good form over hurdles in the interim where he has improved to a peak mark of 132, and that could suggest a mark of 70 is a favourable one if carrying that apparent improvement back over to the Flat.

He did miss an engagement at Beverley earlier this month on account of the quick ground but that shouldn't be an issue this time.

JB a nr

No Bossy Guest today! I'm surprised that you haven't been tempted, but think you're right not to be, as the Spring Cup run suggested a mile would be his best trip. I think that the fact you haven't picked it and that you only have one selection today shows good restraint, and hope that pays off come the end of this thread.

I couldn't be sure he'll come out of the stalls this time, PHS, so there's one good reason for me not to select him!
Tbh, the one selection is more laziness than restraint!

I did consider a couple around the 50-1 mark for selection in that but in the end decided to pass.

If I have a few options in a race of that nature, I tend to let the price dictate the choice, which is what happened when I picked Bossy Guest last time.

I was gonna put Mighty Zip up as I think theres a draw bias evident at Nottingham.

Im now convinced there is a draw bias at Nottingham!

I do have a further and more 'guessy' pick to make, but as it may drift, I'll hang on till later or in the morning

Pearly Prince is a NR

Englishman, 1pt EW @ 33-1, 6.50 Windsor

Englishman has been beaten a total of 24.5 lengths in two starts this season, but both runs have come on ground that might have been quick enough for him, so with rain around he's off a little EW interest at big odds. He won over this C/D on soft ground early last season off a mark 2lb higher than today's, and then followed up at Newmarket following another 3lb rise.

His two wins last season did come on the back off a highly encouraging reappearance at Doncaster in a big field, so he does need to prove he's in some sort of form this time around, but if the ground does a make a difference to him then he's clearly on a good mark based on his peak efforts of last season.

was going to mention englishman earlier george,although he won that newmarket race on so called good ground he really is dependent on getting soft.

he's going to fall in sooner or later.

notice taylor as put up goring in that...good luck today