The saver wins.....

Diamond Josh was well supported on track from an early 9/1 into 13/2, he couldn't deliver in the race though and after leading faded to finish unplaced.

Saver bet Guilded Cove went on to win comfortably and always looked to be going well, another well supported into 3/1.


Current Profit/Loss: +£9.00

Take aim and claim....

Claimers are not usually races to play in, but when an opportunity arises like today, I feel we must invest.

The 7.00 at Wolverhampton will not be the first race looked at by most punters today, with Kempton unveiling their new Polytrack surface, but I've given it a good wash over with the form-book and come up with a nice bet.

Diamond Josh could get a very easy lead up front and his form entitles him to plenty of respect - He has gone close in a couple of handicaps recently, and he'll be very difficult to keep out of the first three with a decent chance of winning too. I wouldn't have expected his price to be anything over 7/1 so the current price of 10/1 with Ladbrokes is big enough for us to have a solid E/W bet. Diamon Josh will try and lead to the final bend then kick on and try and steal the race, it will not be a surprise if he holds on.

Expect Guilded Cove to be the biggest danger to Diamond Josh, he could really do with a very strong pace, and if any one decides to take Diamond Josh on for the lead - Guilded Cove will be the one to take advantage. His price is much nearer to his chances of winning, and anything over 7/2 is value. He can be backed as a saver to Diamond Josh.

Suggested Bet:

7.00 Wolverhampton

3pts E/W Diamond Josh
2pts Win Guilded Cove
1/2pt Reverse Forecast, Diamond Josh & Guilded Cove

Placed & Placed

Both horses ran good races without looking like winning to place behind nice winner Qadar. The withdrawal pre-race of Treasure Cay @4/1 proved a costly 20p in the £ rule 4 deduction. Overall a minimal loss on the day, and not to far away from a good return.


Current Profit/Loss: +£10.00

Get a round in...

The 4.35 at Lingfield is a top class sprint handicap for horses rated 0-100. One More Round rated 90 looks set for a hike in the handicap after running only a length and a half behind 107 rated Les Arcs off level weights. That race was run at a fierce pace and One More Round came from nearly last to fly home in 3rd. He needs a very strongly run race to perform to his best and with Dancing Mystery again in todays field that is assured. Don't be put off by the fact he hasn't won for a while, connections have struggled to find his trip on the all-weather. His only 2 runs over 5 furlongs at Lingfield have brought about top class form and a reproduction of either of those efforts would see him go very close and at a likely 4/1 looks a free each-way bet.

The main danger is Fromsong who has a great course and distance record and his credentials look rock solid in this race and is another who should be backed each-way at the likely odds of 5/1.

Suggested bet:

4.35 Lingfield

2.5pt E/W One More Round
2.5pt E/W Fromsong
1/2pt Reverse Exacta, One More Round + Fromsong

Last to first.....

Mambazo came from last to first to win the 5.20 at Lingfield to give us our 3rd consecutive winning bet at a well supported 5/2.

Each-Way selection Poker Player never got competitive after fluffing the start - the fact that he couldn't land a blow was a clear sign that the pace was fast which suited Mambazo to perfection.

Early morning favourite Holbeck Ghyll showed plenty of pace and ran a satisfactory race on his return, back on fast ground on turf at a more suitable course he would be of some interest.

Current Profit/Loss: +£12.00

Opposing the favourite....

The last race of the day Lingfield brings Andrew Baldings Holbeck Ghyll back to the racecourse after an absence of 194 days. He finished last season with 3 straight wins and has been installed as favourite for today's race. I believe there are strong reasons to oppose him today, these being.

• Lack of a recent run - his three wins last year came in the space of 9 days. He has a poor record fresh.
• His three wins came on tracks with an incline all the way to the line - the track at Lingfield wouldn't be ideal.
• He has a tendency to hang a little right in his races - a big negative at Lingfield.
• No all-weather form - his only attempt, he finished last at Wolverhampton.
• His 3 wins came in my opinion quite weak races.

For those reasons he must be opposed today - the strongest reason his tendency to hang slightly right - which at Bath, Salisbury and Sandown isn't an inconvenience - but at a sharp left-handed Lingfield could be a massive negative.

I'm going to take him on with two runners. Firstly Poker Player, who has been crying out for a drop down to five furlongs - his run last time at Wolverhampton was an improvement on his previous efforts and another furlong drop should be in his favour. Seb Sanders has been booked to ride, if he sets a good even tempo either in front or just behind Tartatartufata he could nick this and I'm very hopeful of a return on the place side of the bet at 12/1

The other is the tough and consistent Mambazo who likes to come off the pace and has a decent draw today in stall 2 after three poor draws in his last runs at Wolverhampton. The quicker they go today the better for him and there is likely to be a decent gallop guaranteed.

Suggested Bet:

5.20 Lingfield

1pt E/W Poker Player

2pt Win Mambazo

More joy at the sandpit of Southwell

Stoneacre Boy does the job very easily beating Garlogs by 3 lengths, with a further 6 lengths back to the 3rd horse.

The return of 6/4 was value and fully justified the 3pt win stake.

Current Profit/Loss: £9.00

Stoneacre joy?

Stoneacre Boy has ticks in all the right boxes - anything over 11/10 would be value and at a likely 6/4 he should be bet today.

Suggested Bet:

2.20 Southwell

3pt Win Stoneacre Boy

Opening event at Southwell on Monday....

Stoneacre Boy has impressed me strongly on his last two outings. The clock doesn't lie and his 4 length victory of course and distance was set in a good time. He may well have improved on that last time setting a very strong pace over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton, keeping on well to finish 2nd. He has only gone up 1lb in the handicap for that last run and with an improving profile he looks the one to beat here.

Main danger will no doubt be Garlogs who has a strong course & distance record. He may though have reached his level of progression and is a little vulnerable to an improver - add to that Stoneacre Boy's trainer Peter Grayson will have a good idea how good Garlogs is - after his own Stoneacre Lad comfortably beat him.

If Stoneacre Boy reproduces his form over C&D he should be able to score here.


Final decision made tomorrow - dependent on price.