Our columnist with a horse-by-horse guide to his runners this weekend.
Ripon
15:25 Musical Touch
I was a bit disappointed with him in the Sky Bet Dash last time but he’d been running well prior to that and is in great order again.
I think he’ll be fine on the track, you can forget his last run there as it was a flag start and he got left behind. I think we have a decent draw and I’m a little surprised he’s as big a price as he is.
15:55 Advance Twentyfive
It was great to see him get his head in front at Chester last time where the first-time visor really helped. If it’s as effective again on Saturday then he has a chance. He’s up four pounds and I think he’ll be OK at Ripon. Not every horse handles the undulations there but I think he’ll be fine.
Doncaster
15:37 Rock Opera
We’re stepping up to seven furlongs with him at Doncaster. We’ve been talking about it for a year-and-a-half so are finally giving it a go. He looks like he’ll stay, I think he will, but there is the possibility he’s best over a strongly-run six. This represents a drop in grade for him. If he does relish the seven he’ll run very well.
Pontefract Sunday
15:45 Diamondsforyou
I’d be a bit surprised if she was able to win on debut. We’ve been struggling to get them on grass with the dry, hot summer so her education isn’t as complete as I’d have liked. She could be green but is a nice filly, a well bred one, and somewhere down the line she’ll be winning races.
16:45 Catching The Moon
She’s Diamondsforyou’s older half-sister. She banged her head in the stalls at York last time and suffered a nosebleed so you put a line through that run. I’d love to see her back to her best and if she did then she'd be in the mix for all nine wouldn’t be an ideal draw.
17:45 Vintage Clarets
I’m just worried about the ground for him. He likes juice in it and we haven't had that all season. He’s a very well handicapped horse now and I’d like to think he’ll start to take advantage but he’s definitely better with a little cut.
18:45 Havana Rum
He ran well in a better race than this at York last time and is back down to his last winning mark. Ethan Tindall takes three pounds off, the horse loves Pontefract and he’s in great order. He has a lot in his favour.
Southwell
16:10 Storm Force
This is quite a nice horse, we like him. We’ve been struggling a bit with all the fast ground to get him going this season so are heading to the all-weather for his first start. He’s nice and one I’m looking forward to seeing this weekend.
16:40 Black Orchid
This is a nice filly who is progressing all the time. Again, I’ve been waiting for some better ground with her but with no sign of that still, we’re heading to the all-weather. She’s in really good form and I think she’ll go well.
17:10 Lesley's Boy
He’s been disappointing all season but is starting to come down in the handicap to the sort of mark from which I think he can be competitive. I’d like to see more on Sunday.
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