Silver Ghost, 1pt win @ 5-1, 6.00 Sandown
Ice Buster, 1pt EW @ 12-1, 6.00 Sandown

Silver Ghost ran a nice race in a maiden at Salisbury last season when finishing third on his fourth run for a mark; mixed messages from that form but the winner who was rated 80 at the time, has gone on to be rated 92. He was disappointing on his handicap debut last October, on what proved to be his final start for Geoffrey Deacon, finishing last of six at Windsor, off a mark of 74. However, there was a lot more encouragement on his recent debut for Eve Johson-Houghton over 10f at Lingfield (AW), possibly finding the trip round there sharp enough but staying on well in the straight to just miss 3rd.

He's kept to 10f here, off the same mark of 72, but a stiffer test at the trip should suit better, and although really quick ground could be a conern, he shapes like he should be up to winning races of his current mark and looks interesting recruit for a yard that did really well last season.


Ice Buster runs over a variety of trips and he seems to stay two miles, but the fact is three of his four career wins have come at around today's trip of 10f (including over this C/D); he's now 3lb lower than the mark he won off last June over 10f at Bath for today's jockey Adam Kirby, and although he disappointed on his latest start when sent off joint-favourite at Chepstow over 12f, he had previously been running well enough to suggest he's going to win again when the cards fall right (doesn't always help himself by racing keenly).

He's another who may not want the ground to become too quick, but interesting to see what tactics are adopted on this return to 10f, given that win over the trip at Bath last season under Kirby came from the front.


Haulini, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 7.25 Chelmsford

The notebook run for Haulini came at Newmarket over one mile last September, when on the face of it he was disappointing, finishing only 4th of 8 having been sent off 9-4 favourite, however, I just thought he never looked happy on the quick ground or the track and sensibly was looked after by the jockey, but did put in some late work. His next start came over one mile at Newcastle on Tapeta, finishing 3rd of 5 behind one who is unexposed on the AW and leaving the impression a stiffer test under the conditions may suit better.

Gelded ahead of his reappearance, Haulini finished last of seven at Salisbury, but just wonder if the firm ground was against him there (ground was good / good to soft when winning twice last season).

Haulini has been dropped 2lb and is eased slighly in grade here, with a tongue tie an interesting addition, and he looks worth at least one more chance, particularly as he remains unexposed at trips beyond a mile.

Correction ffs, how difficult can it be

It was meant to be:

Silver Ghost, 2pts win @ 9-2

the heat getting to you George

must be nice life - im stuck in office sweating cobs and thats with air con on LOL

Three points lost on the day.

May Running Total
P/L : +83.85

Win stat: 8/56 (14%)
Place stat: 17/56 (30%)

Points staked so far: 89

Overall Running Total
P/L : +61.3

Win stat: 15/131 (11%)
Place stat: 38/131 (29%)

Points staked so far: 221
Points won on multiples: 3.25 (included in overall P/L)

May Running Total
P/L : +82.85

Win stat: 8/56 (14%)
Place stat: 17/56 (30%)

Points staked so far: 89

Overall Running Total
P/L : +60.3

Win stat: 15/131 (11%)
Place stat: 38/131 (29%)

Points staked so far: 221
Points won on multiples: 3.25 (included in overall P/L)

Inlawed being in the race has cost me there, as I suspected conditions weren't right for him, but as he was a bit of an 'unknown', I decided to do a split stake jobbie rather than go EW on the main fancy Open Wide Frustrating business this at times

Venturous, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 3.50 York

Venturous is a former Godolphin horse who cost current connections £44,000, and I thought there were encouraging signs when he made his debut for his new yard late last month over 6f at Ripon, despite never being in the heat of the battle, but noted shaping nicely without being given a hard time. He was sent to Ascot for his latest start, with SDS an eyecatching booking, and he wasn't without market support, but he finished a disappointing last of 7.

He clearly has a bit to prove after that, and a further concern is that this will be his first start at 5f, but he remains of interest, particularly based on one piece of form from last season when rated 9lb higher, which came at York, when he finished 4th and did best of those drawn in double figures in a valuable 6f handicap which worked out really well (winner was Mr Lupton, now rated 11lb higher; runner-up was subsequent Stewards' Cup winner Dancing Star; 6th was subsequent Listed winner Acclaim).

That York run came on good to soft ground and Venturous could probably do with the forecast showers hitting York, if only to make this more of a relative test at the distance.


Zest, 1pt EW @ 18-1, 4.45 Curragh

Zest started the season rated 87, but connections presumably felt she had improved over the winter to have pitched her into Listed company for her comeback over 1 mile at Kempton, and she justified their expectations, finishing a staying on third to attain important black type; that saw her rating raised 10lb to 97, and she was kept to Listed company for her next start at Goodwood, but on this occasion she finished a disappointing 8th in a race won by Laugh Aloud, who she had finished in front of at Kempton.

I'm not sure that Goodwood run reflected her true ability, given she was held up in a race where it didn't look easy to come from off the pace. So it's interesting that James Fanshawe has opted to pitch her into Group 2 company, in which she seemingly looks up against it on ratings; perhaps he has spotted a good opportunity to nick a bit more black type in a small field, but I'm inclined to think there could be further improvement to come from this relative of the top class Soviet Song.

Cheers saddo. I'd say he deffo could do with some rain, though soft ground would be an unknown. Just wonder if the quick ground was the reason he didn't run well at Ascot, cuz I thought there was definite promise at Ripon.

Intricately, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 3.25 Curragh

I thought Intricately shaped better than the bare result in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown when behind Winter and Hydrangea, given she was never getting a clear shot at it up the inside rail and she was carrying a 3lb penalty.

I selected her on the back of that at Newmarket when she ran a shocker, but perhaps a combination of quick ground and contesting the pace did for her.

She's clearly up against it to reverse the form with Winter, but on what may be more suitable ground and hopefully ridden with more restraint this time, she's given another chance, albeit a place may be her best hope.

I know how you feel George,I backed it yesterday lunchtime at 20s just hoping for a place.A nose 4th

Still in the Oaks..hummm.

Fastnet Spin, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 2.05 Leicester

There seems little doubt that Fastnet Spin is more effective with juice in the ground, so with that in mind she didn't shape too badly on her seasonal return at Chepstow two starts back on quick ground, particularly as she didn't get the clearest of runs up the stands' rail; she ran a shocker last time at Windsor when blinkers were tried, but that looked a warm race for the grade and the run is easily forgiven.

Fastnet Spin is eased in the weights and grade here, with Jim Crowley booked and a visor reapplied, so with rain forecast, she gets an EW vote.


Cornborough, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 3.00 Redcar

Cornborough hadn't been seen on the Flat for a year, during which time he reached a rating in the 130s over hurdles. I didn't think his comeback run at Pontefract was without promise given he wasn't well positioned given how the race panned out, but was noted going on at the finish, and that race has worked out quite well.

I selected him on the back of that last time out at Nottingham, but whatever chance he had was effectively ended when he was badly hampered as he tried to make headway. He's given another chance with the forecast rain in his favour (though not sure he would want it to become too soft).


Jabbaar, 1pt win @ 11-2, 3.00 Redcar

A saver is had on Jabbaar, who also ran in that Pontefract race (when making his debut for David Barron having been bought out of the Owen Burrows' yard) and he very much caught the eye, travelling enthusiastically but not getting much luck in the run.

I selected him last time when he ran at Ayr in an amateur riders' race, even though I was a bit dubious about the application of blinkers (he did wear blinkers once for his previous yard but there was nothing in the Ponte run imo to suggest he needed them, particularly as he'd been a little keen), and he offered little, failing to land a blow; perhaps he didn't take to the headgear and / or the ground was a bit too lively for him.

He's given another chance here having been eased in the weights again, the blinkers off and Philip Makin, who was aboard at Pontefract, returning to the saddle; though stamina is a slight concern, particularly with rain forecast.


Mulled Wine, 1pt win @ 15-2, 3.05 Chelmsford

Mulled Wine ran well three starts back at Kempton when going after a clear leader only to give best close home to one who'd sat further back off the pace; he then caught the eye next time at Lingfield when not getting much luck in the run up the straight, having been held up on that occasion.

I selected him last time over the same C/D when better might have been expected, but I'm going to give him another chance as a drop in his rating to 50 (12lb below his initial rating) allows him into a class 7 for the first time. Pat Cosgrave takes over in the saddle, with a handy draw to work from.

Charming, 73 points in profit this month despite never having had more than 2pts on a selection. Seriously, I don't know why I bother!

Mind, Injam's win is starting to feel like a distant memory

Just a bit of interest tbh Lee.

Not sure they've had much rain at Leicester, which is bad news for the first pick.

WD George

Cheers. What a relief, thought the month was slipping away from me after a good York.

Rubbish from the last one unfortunately, though the start didn't help, but probably not one to be making excuses for

wd George

WD today George

Earthly, 1pt win @ 7-1, 5.10 Lingfield

Earthly caught my eye on his latest start over 10f at Salisbury, when failing to secure a clear run for the whole of the straight and leaving the impression he would have finished closer to the winner with a clearer run and was better than his 6th place finish suggested.

That was a 0 - 85, and he's eased in grade to 0-70 here (he's rated 71, dropped a lb from last time, but is eligible for this), and he did win his maiden at this track (albeit it was just a class 6), so hopefully the switch in surface won't be an issue, while the step up to 12f should suit.