None of our 3 selections troubled the judge yesterday and the day ended in a loss.
Today’s bets:
1.30 - Newmarket:
First City - 1 pt win. Available at 12/1 (Sportingbet)
Pyrrha - 1 pt win. Available at 12/1 (General)
A decent Fillies handicap to start the day and one which should be run at a sound gallop. That should suit both First City and Pyrrha who are drawn adjacent/near to a couple of trailblazers. First City caught the aye last time out in a Listed handicap over a mile at Ascot where she never got the racing room she needed until it was too late. She took her time to pick up when the gaps did appear but she was finishing to good effect once the race was all but over. The drop back in distance today is not necessarily in her favour but if they do go a decent pace she will be one of the beneficiaries. She has form on fast ground but her debut win last season came in heavy ground so rain will not ruin her chances. Pyrrha needs to improve to take this but there is every indication she can. A disappointment in a Group Three at Ascot aside, she was progressive as a Juvenile and proved she had trained on when finishing third of seven on her reappearance at Goodwood. She looked in need of that race but the fact she had been backed into favouritism indicates she had been showing up well at home. She has yet to race on ground softer than good but if she handles it the step up to seven furlongs could see her find the requisite improvement for a yard with a decent strike rate at this track.
2.00 - Newmarket:
Shamwari Lodge - 2 pts win. Available at 13/2 (General)
Run For The Hills - 2 pts win. Available at 9/1 (General)
2.35 - Newmarket - Misheer - 3 pts win. Available at 7/2 (General)
Habaayib has been progressing at a rate of knots butit's debatable whether the level of form she has so far shown is much superior to that of Misheer who trades at nearly twice her price. Misheer herself is still improving and there was no disgrace in going down to Jealous Again at Royal Ascot last time out. There was two lengths back to the third, Ceedwell, and there seems no reason why those positions should be reversed today. She gives the impression she will stay further so a decent gallop will suit, as will the stiffish finish at this track. A winner on both the slow and fast side of good ground she can gain compensation for having the misfortune to come against the American flying machine.
2.55 - Catterick - Northern Flyer - 2 pts win. Available at 11/2 (Sportingbet)
This represents a step up in class but Northern Flyer quickened up in the style of a horse who is still improving when winning over today's trip at Musselburgh last time out. He had to bide his time in a pocket on the rail but once he got in the clear he put the race to bed quickly. He had Lost In Paris nearly two lengths back in third and, even with a five pound turnaround in the weights, he looks capable of taking care of that rival again. He seems to have struck up a good relationship with his talented five pound claimer and has proven his ability with cut in the ground. A mark of 62 looks within his scope and this trip looks ideal.
4.40 - Catterick - Capone - 1 pt e/w. Available at 12/1 (General)