TimeformBlog

Byrd In Hand can get us off to a good start this afternoon by taking what, admittedly, seems a fairly open handicap (14:10). John Bridger's four-year-old has appeared nine times this season, including a fine second in a nine-furlong handicap at Goodwood just four days ago where he looked the winner over a furlong out, and is now down to a mark below that of his latest victory. The drop back in trip to a mile this afternoon should be to his favour and he can see off the likes of Dannios, who has gone up significantly in the weights for his recent performances and could now be vulnerable.

Inetrobil and Pimpernel set the standard in the six-furlongs listed Dick Poole Stakes (15:50), but the unexposed Dreamwriter can improve past them and follow-up her ready maiden win at Newbury. That debut performance was extremely impressive, Dreamwriter showing a sharp turn of foot to come from last to first inside the final two furlongs, to rout a field of potentially useful maidens. Whilst she was the stable second-string on that occasion (Whimsical, who was the first, runs in the 15:15 at the same track today) there is every reason to believe that she is capable of winning at this level and, with further improvement to come, she can take this on the way to better things.

Planetoid got the better of A Boy Named Suzi when the pair met at Newmarket last time and can confirm superiority this evening in what looks to be a handicap of similar quality (19:40). Planetoid had to overcome a penalty that day and, despite idling once in the lead, he found extra in the closing stages, suggesting there's plenty more in the locker - connections certainly think so as the Cesarewitch, at Newmarket in October, is being touted as a possible target. With that in mind, Plantoid is a confident selection at track where he is already proven.

Recommendations
Back Byrd In Hand @ 6.6 in the 14:10 at Salisbury
Back Dreamwriter @ 3.6 in the 15:50 at Salisbury
Back Planetoid @ 3.7 in the 19:40 at Kempton

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