Royal Zabeel 5th - nicely done George

Sassy Glory, 1pt EW @ 20-1, 4.30 Catterick (4 PLACES)

Sassy Glory has only had a couple of tries at 12f on turf when the word "firm" hasn't appeared in the official going description, and one of them on good-to-soft at Thirsk a couple of seasons back saw her put in a decent effort when ridden prominently to finish 2nd of 15 in a well-run contest with the field finishing well strung out. She did eventually win a race at Newcastle over a mile last September, but does appear to stay 12f.

The official going description is currently "good" and she may ideally not want the ground to dry out too much, but if given a prominent ride around here like she was at Thirsk that day then hopefully she can give a good account from a handy draw in five.

Molly Valentine, 1pt EW @ 22-1, 7.30 Wolverhampton (4 PLACES)

Molly Valentine was having her second run back off a break here last time over the 8.5f trip, on what was her stable debut, and although she faded to finish 7th of the 11 runners and beaten just over ten lengths behind the easy winner, she had a notably wide trip from the widest draw in that amateur riders' contest and in the circumstances wasn't disgraced.

She's a C&D winner so the step back up in trip shouldn't be an issue, and has a lower draw this time, with Jack Doughty taking over in the plate.

Sea Of Charm, 1pt EW @ 14-1, 8.17 Windsor

Sea Of Charm is an 8YO now and is vulnerable to less-exposed sorts, particularly as she's eligible for slightly weaker races than this one, but she's returned this year in good nick, winning at Lingfield, and then what looked an even better effort in defeat at Wolverhampton, having been drawn widest and then got into a battle for the lead from some way out, but having won that battle and gone a few lengths clear turning for home, she ultimately gave way inside the final furlong to a couple of patiently-ridden rivals.

The selection could only finish 5th of 6 last time back at Lingfield but doubt that tactical affair in a higher grade than today's would have suited. She has a C&D win to her name from two just two course visits, albeit off an 8lb lower mark, and she looks fairly handicapped on this year's efforts if able to hold her form returned to turf.

Dark Cloud Rising, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 2.55 York (6 PLACES)

Dark Cloud Rising is a big price here having not offered much in a couple of starts this season, and perhaps more worryingly not shone in three previous starts at York, however, I'm going to take a chance at a big price, with him having perhaps shaped better than the bare result last time at Leicester when finishing behind a few of today's rivals.

Of his two starts this season, the run run might have been needed at Pontefract even though he was solid enough in the betting, and last time he was drawn high and raced nearisde in a contest which typically at Leicester unfolded centre to far side, but he still recorded an RPR of 90 despite finishing only 9th of the 13 runners, beaten just under four lengths.

His course form is a concern as he finished well-held last autumn in the Coral Sprint Trophy when well drawn, but he doesn't lack for early pace and he potentially isn't badly drawn here in ten.

Physique, 1pt EW @ 10-1, 4.28 Yarmouth

Physique hasn't seemed in much form in two starts this season but he wasn't well drawn on his reappearance at Doncaster, and interesting that he was well supported last time at Newmarket where he might have had excuses having stumbled at the start and then been on a strong pace before weakening.

He's looking well-handicapped on his form from last spring which included good efforts at the Lincoln and Guineas meetings. This looks a bit easier than he's used to and any rain will help.

Loleeta, 1pt EW @ 16-1, 5.03 Yarmouth (3 PLACES)

Loleeta has been weak in the betting so far today but comes here on the back of a decent effort at Southwell (5f) where she was plenty keen enough under Chloe Lyons (who was riding her for the first time and retains the ride today) in what appeared a well-run contest, but was only headed inside the final 100 yards, with the first four pulling clear, and the 3rd and 6th (who didn't get a clear run) have won subsequently. The winner has her next start in the 4.40 at York today.

The switch back to turf may partially explain Loleeta's market weakness having not raced on grass since her first two starts as a juvenile, but she showed enough then when taking a grip and fading to finish 4th on both occasions to suggest that she can go well on it.

Cheers and good luck Micky.

A couple at big prices against the field in the last at York:

Pendella, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 5.15 York (5 PLACES)
Tommo's Ginjaninja, 1pt EW @ 50-1, 5.15 York (5 PLACES)

Pendella has a bit to prove here because not only is she making her turf debut, she's also up markedly in trip to 12f, however, there is encouragement in her pedigree for both the grass and middle distances. She had no problem with the step up in trip to 8.5f at Wolverhampton in February when defeating a short-priced Godolphin filly who admittedly still looked green, and although that form was reversed at Southwell in April over a mile, Pendella left the impression that a stiffer test may suit.

One of the selection's half-sisters (by Kodiac) is a one mile French Listed winner (unraced over further), while another by Iffraaj is a winner on both turf and the AW at around 11f, and her dam was a dual 12f handicap at the Curragh, whose best RPR of 99 came when finishing a close 4th of 30 in the Irish Cesarewitch at that track over 2 miles, so it will be interesting to see how Pendella gets on in this completely different scenario to what she has faced before.

Tommo's Ginjaninja doesn't face an easy task here to reverse Doncaster form with Cotton Bud whom he finished third and 4.5L behind at Doncaster (10f, g-f) last month, while this is a step up grade for them both, however, he does have a 6lb pull and perhaps his Doncaster effort can be marked up having sat closer to the pace than the first two and found himself in front over 2f out before giving way over a furlong out, but he did stick on which gives some encouragement for the step up in trip today to 12f. The selection was having his first start on turf last time having only made his debut in January so hopefully has more to offer on grass.

Ta Virgin.

Unfortunately a couple of late withdrawals took the field size down to 14, so while a couple of the main firms have still paid out on five places, others haven't, so will class Pendella as a loser.

An absolute shocker from Tommo's Ginganinja who found this step up in grade all too much.

2026 Running P/L: +36.75 pts

* Top Star

good luck george

5th unlucky George

Anglesey Lad, 1pt EW @ 28-1, 7.40 Chepstow (4 PLACES)

Anglesey Lad is still a maiden after 21 starts but has made the frame on seven occasions, and hasn't always had the rub of the green. He returned from ten months off with a fair fifth at Southwell (5f) in April, but didn't necessarily build on that last week at Bath on firm ground when finishing 4th of 7, however, he did race prominently into a headwind in a contest where the winner had been behind early.

Scott Dixon doesn't run many at Chepstow (1-12 since 2022), and perhaps he has a more obvious chance with his runner in the 6.40, but interesting that this feller is being turned out again relatively quickly, this time on easier ground, and he's finished runner-up in both his starts in handicaps (for his previous yard) when the going has been given as good to soft.

The selection is having to race from out of the handicap and his draw in two could be an issue if the stands-side is favoured, but a chance is taken at the odds each-way with four places on offer.

Thaloria

Thaloria got off the mark on her second start for Natalia Lupini at Dundalk (7f) in January, and having run poorly back there in February, she hasn't run badly in defeat the last twice, probably doing well to finish second in an optional claimer (7f) back at Dundalk having got hooked up in a speed-duel, and last time at Leopardstown (7f, y-s) when again to the fore from a wide draw in a well-run contest before fading to finish 6th of the 16 runners.

She's being tried over a mile here so hopefully will be given a chance to see her race out better, and that latest start offered encouragement that she might not be just an all-weather horse, though does have to prove herself on quicker turf.

Kalikapour

I'm going to take a chance on the fitness of Kalikapour, who is returning from nine months off and makes his debut for John Wainwright. It was in the corresponding race last year in which he finished third beaten just over a length with his jockey having put up 2lb overweight, and although admittedly that was a bunch finish, he did fare best of the prominent-racers.

The race is now a 0-55 contest having been a 0-60 last year, so hopefully Gianluca Sanna can do the weight with his mount being the joint-top-weight this time around, and while fitness is an obvious concern with his new yard having gone a while without a winner, a chance is taken under conditions that he's capable of running well under.

In A Hurry

A speculative pick on In A Hurry, from a yard which has a much more obvious chance in this with Rajapour. The selection needs to bounce back from three disappointing runs, but it's possible easier ground wasn't ideal on her penultimate start of last year at Musselburgh, and perhaps her reappearance at Wetherby was needed, where she was prominent until over a furlong out and then wasn't persevered with once weakening having become bit short of room.

She's of interest on her second-place at Carlisle (7f, good) in September, when although no match for One Night Thunder, that rival had become well-handicapped and was well-backed, and duly followed up under a 5lb penalty.

In A Hurry needs to show that she hasn't just gone the wrong way, and as a free-going filly will need to get into a good rhythm from a tricky draw, but a chance is taken here at big odds, being 3lb below the mark she ran off for that good effort at Carlisle.

Marajito

Tim Easterby has a more obvious chance in this with Canaria Queen, and jockey bookings would seem to confirm that, however, Marajito shaped well enough at Nottingham (5f, good) nearly three weeks ago on her return from a 7-month break, to make some appeal here at the prices. She finished behind the race-fit Herakles and Dc Cogent on that ocassion, but showed up well for a fair way until perhaps fitness told and was caught away from where the action unfolded as the principals were more nearside. Hopefully she has benefited from that return to action and can be more competitive at the business end on this occasion.

Still green George keep chipping.

majorito....
boom