Sedgefield this afternoon and hopefully a winner can be found in the 3.40 race a Handicap Hurdle with the likely favourite being the winner of a conditional event last time who should again make a good showing in this weak race. The worry about Undefined Beauty is the drift from 1.95 out to 3.3 but she was impressive winning last time giving her a win and a second place since moving to this stable. At a price of 3.25 its a back for me.
Although she has won a point to point over three miles in Ireland she seems to have no problem in rules races over the shorter distance of two miles. The bay mare won a slightly stronger race than this at Worcester last time out and with Rebel **** being her main opposition is taken to win again. Listen To The Man is the selection, I've an adjusted 2.17 on Betfair and thats quite fair in my opinion.
Last time out was his first attempt on genuinely soft going and it had the desired effect with him drawing clear close to the line and also suggesting that the rise in distance to todays seven furlong should also suit Placebo Effect. Nearest maket rival today Shovel It On has yet to encounter soft going and with connections running him on Tapeta perhaps they arent too confident about soft going? I'm happy to go with Placebo Effect with the form in the book for this Seller and have taken 3.3 on Betfair.
Having his third run this afternoon since moving from Nigel Twiston-Davies to the Peter Bowen yard and down to a mark 5lb below his last winning mark plus the added advantage of a 10lb Claimer in his back should see Mont Choisy in the 2.45 at Cartmel there or thereabouts at the business end of the race. He has won over this distance in a point to point when trained in Ireland and with a recent run under his belt should be ready to go. I've gone for win and place taking 6 for the win and 2 for the place. If its expected, then I'm sure there will bemoney for this one.
Now that the non runners have made way for a reserve, still leaving a big field though of sixteen runners then the Lyons trained last time out winner Always Dancing looks to be in with a big shout. He won nicely at Killareny three days ago and now gets in here in what despite being still a big field is not a strong one. I've taken 3.9.
I dont think that the return to six ffurlongs will be against Merlin in the next at Haydock, far from it in fact. He made all over this distance when winning his maiden and did it quite comfortably. Almosy half the field here are non runners so the price has been hurt quite a bit but you can get around 2.25 on Betfair.
So Sleek has ran well the last ttwice over this sort of distance and not beaten very far either time, if anything this looks a slightly weaker maiden than her last two races and I'm hoping she will oblige here. The drift doesnt bother me too much, currently available at 5.4 which seems decent.
Two out of three yesterday and a nice return with it was pleasing. Tonight at Windsor I think that one that could give us another win for the blog is the Gerge Wood ridden and Don Cantilon trained gelding Hollywood Road. Since moving to this stable Hollywood Road has won five of his 15 races and been placed in five more. On good to firm Hollywood Road has never been unplaced and over the distance he has won 3 from 5. Finishing third in his last race in this grade doesnt perhaps look that great but when you consider that the two horses that finished in front of him were both three years olds that had the advantage of the weight for age allowance going for them then it looks an ok performance to me. George Woods has a cracking strike rate for the stable and with Hollywood Road trading at 7/4 with the books, then I'm quite happy with the 3.14 I've got on betfair, which was reduced to that due to the non runners and reduction factor.
2.00 Troilet, banking on this one bouncing back to form at Perth today, taken 2.6 on Betfair.
3.50 Bestwork, best performance of his career when winning last time out, turn out quickly before being reassessed, 3.4 taken on Betfair.
5.30 Sky of Stars looks like an improving four year old finsishing second in first time blinkers last time out and hopefully they will have the same effect today and he can go one better, 3.65 taken here.
Haven been gelded over the winter seems to have had the desired effect for the Kieth Dalgleish trained Inglorious. He ran a cracker last time out, first since being gelded, attitude certainly a big improvement on last season, Rowan Scott had him quite wide that day and would have finished closer but for that. He gets in here off the same mark in a race that looks slightly easier than his last task. Given luck in running he shuld be bang there at business end of the race. The eary 3/1 has all gone, best I could get was close though, 3.95 on Betfair.