The best bets from our Timeform team ahead of Saturday's action from Sandown, Ripon, Doncaster and Haydock.
MINELLA YOGA - 13.45 Sandown (James Davies)
It's understandable Kadastral has opened clear favourite given his newly-crowned Champion Trainer's skill when it comes to targeting valuable events, but frankly he looks a very short price for a horse that has finished notably weakly on his last two outings. Maybe the return to less testing ground will prove key, but he is easy enough to oppose with plenty of interesting rivals in opposition, one of which is Minella Yoga, who turned over subsequent Baring Bingham runner-up Act Of Innocence at Newbury on his first start for Paul Nicholls in December, albeit in receipt of a ton of weight. He didn’t quite pass the test in a Triumph Trial at Cheltenham the following month, but was impressive in landing cramped odds back from a break at Taunton earlier this month, and it is pretty easy to see him being much better than his opening mark.
GREAT ACCLAIM - 14.35 Haydock (David Johnson)
A few square pegs aiming at a round hole in this 7f handicap, the likes of Marshman and Korker better known as sprinters while Sarab Star needs to bring his all-weather improvement back to turf. One who should have no trouble with conditions is Great Acclaim who has some strong 7f handicap form last year on quickish ground, with a notable win at Glorious Goodwood. He had some good efforts in defeat later in the season, with a second and fourth at Ascot, the latter behind Native Warrior at Ascot reading particularly well. He was comfortably seen off in the Lincoln on his return, but 1m is beyond his optimum perhaps while he went without the blinkers he wore when improving last year, and it's a big positive that they return here. The 2lb drop is the icing on the cake and he looks sure to give a good account.
EQUITY LAW - 16.10 Ripon (Kieran Clark)
Backing prominent racers drawn towards the stand rail has been a tried and tested method of finding winners in sprints at Ripon over the years. Indeed, at the latest meeting there earlier in the month all 3 events on the straight track were won by those that tracked the pace and with that in mind, Equity Law looks to have very strong claims. He tanked through a competitive Sunday Series event on his return, weakening only late on as if the run would bring him on plenty and his returning stablemate Copper Knight should give him the perfect tow into it. Equity Law looks a cracking bet at 8/1 bidding to give the stable - which has really hit top form this week - a third win in the race since 2022.
THANOS - 16.35 Doncaster (Simon Baker)
Thanos was about the biggest eyecatcher of the season when second on his nursery debut at Newcastle last September and I'm not convinced a subsequent short-priced defeat at Southwell was his true running, even though he ran perfectly well in finding just one too good. He's been gelded during his winter break and can prove himself a lot better than a mark in the 50s this time around, starting here faced with a test - a biggish field over a straight 7f - that should suit him down to the ground.
PALAMON – 16.40 Sandown (Simon Walker)
Calamystic will understandably be a short price in this, 2 from 2 over fences and with the potential to do better again as a chaser, but the race he won here last time out was against largely exposed types and the emphasis will be much more on speed here to boot. In short, there could be value in taking him on with Palamon, who found the company a bit hot and the emphasis on speed a bit much when a never-nearer sixth in the Red Rum a fortnight ago. Prior to that, however, he’d shown himself back in good nick when justifying short odds in ready fashion at Bangor and, back under Harry Skelton, it’s worth giving him a chance to show he’s still on a good mark back in calmer waters.
UP THE JAZZ - 16.45 Ripon (Pat Jupp)
It’s not hard to pick holes in the chances of either of the last-time-out winners in this mile handicap, Highland Olly the beneficiary of several rivals failing to fire at Nottingham, while The Sweet Escape scrambled home in an ordinary affair at the same venue and now has a poor draw to overcome. With this pair likely to take out a good chunk of the market, it looks a race to play in and Up The Jazz fits the bill. He was a creditable third at Wolverhampton in March before better than the bare result back on turf last time (raced too close to a strong gallop). Now down to a career-low mark for a yard that’s going well, he should give a good account at a track where he boasts a win and a placed effort from his three previous visits.
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