TimeformBlog

14:00 - We will know how good an afternoon it is going to be early on, as the first banker is Flambard House in the opener. He made a promising start to his career when second to a horse that has gone in twice since, and the third, fourth and sixth from that race have also tasted success. He seems straightforward and has the benefit of experience, which is a big advantage considering many of his rivals are yet to see a racecourse.

14:30 - Fremen recorded the twenty-first victory of his career last week, and the popular 11-year-old is fancied to make it 22. Paul Quinn has ridden him for both of his wins this season, and is expected to bounce out and make all. Another regular in claimers is Moody Tunes, who is the back-up choice. He is a two-time course and distance winner and is having his first run back in Britain this season after two creditable efforts in French claimers. Expected to be just sitting off the pace, he could give Fremen the most problems.

15:00 - A tough apprentice handicap to crack, as a lot of these have shown little form of late. Star Addition should be suited by today's step back to a mile after racing freely over a mile and a quarter last time and Eric Alston has his older horses in excellent form. We better have a saver in the form of Classic Descent, who has managed to string a couple of creditable efforts together (including a very close third at Newcastle), which is more than can be said for most of his rivals.

15:30 - This one is short and sweet. Walter Swinburn rarely sends any runners this far north, but he may have found a good opportunity for Monicalew to get off the mark. She ran creditably on her handicap debut at Newmarket last time, over an inadequate trip and should take all the beating here.

16:00 - A bad looking race, and surely the toughest leg of the placepot. Alluring Star showed some promise on her handicap debut at Wolverhampton last week, looking as if today's step up from six to seven furlongs will be in her favour, and with trainer Mick Easterby's horses running well, she looks a likely sort. In a race of such low quality it is best to back up our selection with Mick Channon's fully exposed Robber Stone, who looked in need of the run last time, but has the form to be competitive here.

16:30 - The stronger division of the seven-furlong handicap, but not necessarily any easier to solve. Mini's Destination's has been holding her form well enough at a lowly level to think she might be capable of nicking a place. It may also be worth taking a chance on handicap debutant Ryedale Dancer for Tim Easterby, who has the profile of a potential improver. She wasn't knocked about on her reappearance last time in a maiden, doing all her best work at the finish, making the step up in trip to seven furlongs a big positive.

Selections: 16 lines
14:00 - 2
14:30 - 2,7
15:00 - 5,8
15:30 - 4
16:00 - 5,6
16:30 - 5,7

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