Yesterday was a pretty frustrating day. We nearly got off to the perfect start as Princess Taylor went down in a photograph. She looked the winner entering the final furlong and traded at 1.1 on Betfair, but she eventually had to settle for 2nd. Marine Boy was then left in the stalls at Ascot, losing all chance, and we then had a feeling what sort of day it would be. A couple of the other selections ran decent races but not enough to give a return, and the day ended in a rare loss.

Supporting arguments have now been added below. Obviously some of the prices have altered now since the original email was sent at Midday. Apologies for also missing Markington off the last email, it has been one of those days.

Today’s bets:

Hereford 4.05
Although it's no reason to back a horse, Mango Catcher deserves to get his head in front again. Given a break after disappointing over hurdles at Cheltenham in November he has returned three creditable performances since. A combination of 21 furlongs and soft ground are plausible excuses for his Cheltenham effort and his admirable attitude means he is likely to give it his best shot again today. The handicapper has him weighted to his best but his reliability alone is a big positive in this line up. He has handled testing ground in the past but the best of his form is on faster so significant rain may prove to be a negative. A veteran of 66 races under all codes he has won or been placed in almost a third of them and represents a small stable who could hardly be in better form.
Selection – MANGO CATCHER. 2 point win @ 11/2 (Ladbrokes) 1st 5/2 - 9/2 easily available earlier
Folkestone 4.30
Most of the early interest has been in King Of Defence who represents a powerful Trainer/Jockey combination. He is probably capable of a lot better now he enters handicaps but odds of less than evens for a horse who has yet to produce on the track makes limited appeal, whatever the vibes. At a bigger price Crystallize is worth a small interest. He showed progression at a low level in Maidens last season and may not have handled a switch to the A/W for his final start. He showed the benefit of his reappearance by running a much better race back on turf over seven furlongs at Warwick last time out. Dropped a pound today it's interesting to see the yard have gone to the trouble of retaining Seb Sanders for his only booked ride of the day, and that may be an indicator that the selection can improve again. The yard are in good form and they send just the one to the races today.
Selection – CRYSTALLIZE. 1 point E/W @ 16/1 (Stan James)

Hereford 4.40
Comes here on the back of a four month break so fitness could be an issue but, if he is primed for this, he could go well from his current mark. He arguably produced his best performance when last seen, doing all his best work late on over 17 furlongs at Taunton. That was a better race than this and, after ten races over hurdles he could be capable of better still. He has normally been seen on faster ground but he has handled softer and, if the rain does get into the ground, the stiffer test that produces looks likely to suit.
Selection – CHILBURY HILL. 1 point E/W @ 22/1 (Sportingbet) 2nd 14/1

Punchestown 6.05
Selection – SQUARE SPHERE. 1 point win @ 12/1 (General) 1st 7/1 10's and higher available earlier
Selection – SONNIUM. 1 point win @ 16/1 (General)

Huntingdown 6.40
Shoulders top weight and fitness has to be taken on trust after a five month break but he is sill relatively unexposed over this sort of trip and is of definite interest on his efforts over C/D on two occasions last October. He may not appreciate any rain but, if it remains fast, he still looks competitively weighted on a mark of 105. He doesn't seem to improving to any significant degree but a repeat of his best could be good enough in this grade.
Selection – MARKINGTON. 1 point E/W @ 11/1

Yarmouth 7.30
A winner of a Maiden on his debut, Bigfanofthat was handed a mark of 80 for his handicap debut and struggled in four subsequent races. However, down to today's mark of 62, there was much more encouragement over this C/D last time out. That was only his second start of the campaign and he gave the impression there was more to come. The booking of Darryl Holland takes the eye for a small in form stable and the drying ground could be the major factor that sees the horse progress again. Hobson has raced mainly over shorter and hasn't been seen since November. However, he has gone well fresh in the past, is well handicapped on his old form and has given the impression on occasions that seven furlongs could be within his compass.
Selection – BIGFANOFTHAT. 3 point win @ 4/1 (Stan James and Ladbrokes)
Selection – HOBSON. 1 point win @ 12/1 (General) 1st 8/1 10's available!!