Cativo Cavallino returned some place money for us on Saturday (advised at 16/1), but none of our other selections gave us a return. It was particularly frustrating as we discarded Balthazar’s Gift just before selections were sent out, only for him to hack up at 10/1.

Today’s bets:

1.45 - York:
Hamish McGonangall - 2 pts win. Available at 6/1 (Ladbrokes) 2nd 6/1 :confused:
Intrepid Jack - 0.5 pts e/w. Available at 16/1 (Stan James and William Hill) 4th 14/1 ;D
Barney McGrew - 0.5 pts e/w.Available at 20/1 (General) 1st 14/1 - opened at 18/1 ;D
A wide open sprint handicap to open the meeting and a field containing a number who haven't been seen as often over five furlongs as they have over further. On this speed orientated track they could find this test a bit sharper than they would like. Hamish McGonagall heads the market but he deserves to because, although he has yet to add to his tally of winners in six races this season, he has knocked loudly at the door in every one of them. The handicapper has left his mark largely unchanged and he has run well on three previous occasions he has run over this C/D, winning once. Versatile regarding ground conditions his stable are running into form. Both Intrepid Jack and Barney McGrew are normally seen over further but both showed good pace in the Sky Bet Dash over six furlongs here last month. If they can lay up with the likely faster gallop at this shorter trip they could be both putting in some good late work. Neither are weighted out of this although Barney McGrew does represent a stable (in form ) who have gone 41 entries without a winner here in recent seasons.

3.10 - Brighton:
Spring Secret - 1 pt win. Available at 12/1 (Sportingbet and William Hill)
Fire King - 1 pt win. Available at 14/1 (General) 2nd btn by a neck! 9/1- opened 14's :(

3.45 - Brighton - Wester Ross - 2 pts win. Available at 7/1 (General)
Not a big field but a competitive race nonetheless. There are enough horses present who like to get on with things so a decent gallop looks on the cards. That will suit the reappearing Wester Ross who stays further than this and would probably find this trip on the sharp side if it turned tactical. His fitness has to be taken on trust be he is the only representative from the yard at the races today and they have booked a jockey who has got a good tune out of him on all three occasions he has ridden him. Yet to win in handicap company Wester Ross has run well from slightly higher marks. Verstile regarding ground conditions and, if fit and they go fast enough, he could prove strong up this stiff finish.

4.40 - York:
Royal Destination - 3 pts win. Available at 7/2 (Totesport) 1st 5/2 opened 7/2 :boss:
Ra Junior - 1 pt e/w. Available at 20/1 (General)
He may be favourite but Royal destination deserves to be as a progressive gelding in only his second season racing. Stepped up to ten furlongs for the first time in his last race he went down all guns blazing in a very good Goodwood handicap. he is bred for this trip and, for a relatively inexperienced horse, he shows a likeable professional attitude. The booking of Frankie Dettori, who has a 27% strike rate for the yard in recent seasons, is a positive move and Royal Destination is likely to have more to offer under these conditions. Ra Junior was a progressive Juvenile over 7/8 furlongs who made his reappearance this season in Dubai in a Group Two. He cut little ice there and probably needed his run over this C/D when next seen last month. There was much more encouragement over today's trip at Goodwood last time out where he made up some good late headway down the outside of the field from an uncompromising position. He has to prove he conclusively stays this ten furlongs but he is bred for it and, being relatively lightly raced, he is still open to further improvement.

4.50 - Brighton - Too Tall - 2 pts win. Available at 13/2 (Sportingbet)