13:30 Breathless Times
He already has fantastic all-weather form in the book and is building a pretty decent overall profile. It was a pleasing return to action last time when he was caught flat-footed when the taps were turned on behind Keyser Söze who is favourite for the mile race at Lingfield later on. He should’ve improved enough fitness wise to take this opener.
14:00 Amade
Sometimes you can look around for value but just keep on coming back to the top of the market and that is definitely the case here with the French raider. He’s got better and better since stepping up in distance and with Stamford Raffles and Watersmeet in the race, there should be a guaranteed pace to run at. This race looks tailor-made for Christophe Soumillon’s mount.
14:30 Clon Coulis
She’s very lightly-raced for a five-year-old and expertly handled with patient by her trainer, last time was a career-best effort when fairly flying late on to swoop around the field, and win comfortably. We will need a bit of luck and a pace to run at from out wide in stall 10, but we have the right man on board though for executing the fast and late tactics.
Get ready for a Spencer special!
15:05 Stone of Destiny
Kachy it’s going to be all the rage, but if there is something at a price to fill the places or cause an upset, Andrew Balding’s runner is it. He’s all the ability in the world and will be hitting the line very strongly. The only problem is he is not the easiest of rides. If he can negotiate the final turn and not swing too wide, he is a major player at big odds.
15:40 Concierge
A four-time winner already over five, six and seven furlongs, he came up short last time when they tried to stretch him over the mile in Qatar. It’s ideal that he’s back sprinting with William Buick in top form. Well drawn in stall seven means if he can turn handy into this straight, he will hold every chance of winning as he saw out the stiffer six furlongs of Newcastle no problem.
16:15 Victory Bond (each-way)
It may well be a victory lap for Wissahickon at long odds on, but at the prices, I’m happy to watch him go round. The blinkers are back on Victory Bond who is not the most straightforward but has bags of natural ability. Snap up the 12/1 with Paddy as it surely won’t last long for the William Haggas/James Doyle combo.
16:45 Oh This Is Us
Gave 31lbs to the runner-up when winning two starts back over course and distance, but then ran an absolute shocker over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton behind another of today’s rivals, Above The Rest.
He’s much better than that and gets on particularly well with today’s pilot Tom Marquand, who has been on board for five of his 11 successes.
It’s not very often the nap runs in the lucky last but at 9/2 with Paddy he’s got me excited.
*Prices correct at time of publishing
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