York 2:55

Ponte Acclaim seems to have been given a decent shot here by the handicapper. He has very good course form and should benefit from his pipe opening run behind Ancient Cross earlier this month. He has come down in the weights because of a few runs at the end of last season on soft ground and his midfield run here earlier. He had some very decent runs early last year giving him a rating of 105 and his rating here of 91, should put him in with a great shout at a huge looking price. 33/1 with Stan James looks a great price for a horse who has plenty of potential and is still only 4.

1 Point EW 33/1 Stan James

Chester 3:40

Kiama Bay is another who looked to have been given a decent chance by the handicapper here. After a very good 2011 he came down the weights last year after a lot of half decent runs of what was probably a mark that was too high for him. He came back this year in the Chester Cup and really he doesn’t seem to stay that far. The Owner loves his horses to be ready to run at this course and this race looks far more suitable of a decent mark of 87. 14/1 with Bet Victor looks decent and if he can improve for his seasonal return he might well have a decent chance here. He doesn’t have the best of draws but I’m hopeful that won’t be the end of the world over this trip.

1 Point win 14/1 Bet Victor

Curragh 3:20

This race has the look of one with nothing between a lot of the contenders here. I think the Fav looks a bit too short over this trip and I’m more inclined to go with one of Aidan O’Brien’s other runners here in George Vancouver. He was the subject of a few EW wagers at Newmarket but in the end looked in need of the run. The Fast ground here will definatly suit him and he has possibly the best 2yo form of these with a very good 2^nd to Reckless Abandon in the Prix Morney and winning the Breeders Cup Juvanile on very fast ground. He looks on the face of it to be the 3^th choice of ballydoyle judging by the jockey booking, but there probably isn’t a lot between them and he looks great value at 16/1 with Boyles at the moment

1 Point EW 16/1 Boyles

York 1:50

I’m having a lot of difficulty seeing anything other than Our Jonathan winning this race. The rest of the field have a lot to prove or are overrated. A Repeat of his first run out this year when 3^rd behind Jack Dexter should be enough to win this, and his last run can be ignored as he was very slow away and was never in the race. He has very consistent for over 7 Furlongs and 3/1 looks a fair bit overpriced to me. I have him more like 7/4 to win this.

2 Points win 3/1 Various

5:30 Newcastle

Xilerator, looks to have a fair bit in his favour here. He is a course and distance winner, and also has a proven liking for soft ground which he will get today. He ran a great race 2 runs ago in Thirsk, in what was probably a tougher race to be 2^nd. He was poor last time, but hadn’t the best of draws and in these sprint handicaps poor runs can happen like that quite regularly. He is 9/1 in a few places and that looks about 3 points too big. Kingscroft my selection from Saturday who was second at a huge price should also get involved but I’m not that convinced of his value at 4/1.

1 Point win 9/1 Boyles

Newbury 2:40

Doctor Parks, seems overpriced with Ladbrokes here , after what looked a very decent seasonal reappearance in a very good race at Newmarket. He is down to a very reasonable mark and if he can build on that run this race doesn’t look as strong as his previous run. Conditions could be ideal for him here, and he is worth an EW bet at 25/1.

1 Point EW 25/1 Ladbrokes

Thirsk 3:25

Roker Park, is one that done me a favour in the past at a huge price, and although he was poor on his reappearance he always has been.  He is down to a very decent mark and looks sure to pick up a race very soon. He may also need this run but is worth the risk at a big price just in case. He also has very good form on soft, which apparently the ground now is. The draw isn’t bad so 38 on Betfair looks a bit of value, and worthy of a min bet.

½ Point win 38 Betfair

Thirsk 5:10

Kingscroft, has generally won when he got down to this mark in the past. He has plenty of form on soft ground and looks a huge price here on Betfair. He was poor last time but that can be excused as he had a bad draw at Chester.

½ Point win 36 Betfair

Couple of decent runs from yesterdays 2 with Brae Hill and Fitz Flyer finishing 4th & 5th. Both look sure to win soon of their current marks.

York 4:25 NON RUNNER

Barren Broke was one I fancied at a big price for the Lincoln this year but he was withdrawn on the day. He has had a poor run since, but has a decent bit of York form and I’m hopeful that he is ready for a big run today. He has form on soft and is down to a career low mark. He is tried in a hood tomorrow. He’s worth a risk tomorrow at 18/1.

1 Point win 18/1 BetVictor

7:05 Aintree

Vendor has been a disappointing horse this year after a very decent 4yo campaign, but he was possibly not suited by the soft ground he encountered, and did appear to be running better last time until unseating 3 out on better ground. He has looked as if the step up in trip here will suit. He is probably the most unexposed in the field and this race should really suit him. 11/1 looks decent value.

1 Point win 11/1 BetVictor

2:45 York

This race has a complete different look about it now that Cavalryman is gone, as I couldn’t see him beat here. I’m quite surprised the Royal Diamond is the price he is here and I wouldn’t think there is a lot between most of these on form. He ran a very decent race over a trip too short in the Sheema Classis this year and if he can travel as well here as he did there I think he will have a great chance here. 11/1 seems a good few points too big not the the fav has gone.

1 Point win 11/1 Various

2:15 York

It’s a difficult race where I’m having difficulty making a case for anything. Spanish Duke is possibly decent value give that he should appreciate the step up in trip and is in here on a very low mark. He looked to be heading the right way on his seasonal re-appearance but was poor next time at Epson. This race should well be more suitable, and give that the favourite looks too short here, 16/1 looks a bit of value for him to get back to form of a nice racing weight.

1 Point win 16/1 Various

3:15 York

Brea Hill is always worth a look in these events, particularly on softer ground. This race does seem a bit low hardened handicappers that normally win this type of race and his price of 16/1 looks a few points too big . He ran a great race in the Lincoln to be 3^rd and although he was poor last time out these races can be a bit of a minefield and a few blips are standard. He seems to have what could be a decent draw for one who will look to make it, and be difficult to pass.

1 Point Win 16/1 Sky/BetV/StanJames

1:45 York

Going for a couple of longer shots here in what looks a tough race. Stone of Folca has an excellent record fresh and after initially starting great last year went into decline a bit but then came back with a couple of decent runs towards the end of last year. He is still only a 5yo and in sprinting terms could have some improvement in his yet. I’m willing to take a chance he might act on the softer than ideal ground at his current price of 16/1.

I’m also going with one I’ve tipped a few times in Fitz Flyer, he is down to his lowest ever mark and although he needs luck in running with his run style he looks worth a shot at 20/1. He’ll pop up in one of these soon enough and I’ll be there when he does. His last run was about as good as could be expected with a bad draw at Chester. He has form on softer ground and what could be a very decent draw.

½ Point win Stone Of Folca 16/1 Ladbrokes

½ Point EW Fitz Flyer 20/1 Ladbrokes

Society Rock got a great ride from Fallon and stamped his class in this event as id hoped he would. It was hard to understand the upsidedown market with unproven horses at the top and the selection plus the likes of Gordon Lord Byron at bigger prices. Thankfully the prices were proved wrong.

3:15 York.

Society Rock sticks out straight away here as too big a price at 11 on betfair for this race. He was an unlucky 3^rd last year on his reappearance, and 2 unproven horses are ahead of him in the betting. They have a fair way to go yet to get to his top class form and although they may improve enough to win here there aren’t any guarantees of that. Society Rock is almost always in with a shout in Group1s so 10/1 about this Group 2 looks great value. I’d be tempted to go for both him and Gordon Lord Byron but he does seem to be better over longer. In my view he is the Favourite here and 10/1 seems nearly double what he should be.

2 Points win 11 Betfair

1:45 York

Very difficult race and nothing really stands out but I’ll go for a min win bet on Silvery Moon here. He won a very similar if not better race in similar conditions last year at Doncaster with 1lb more to carry. He looked in need of the run first time out this season, which he also did last year and the current 16/1 available generally looks decent. If he can reproduce that form here or even the 3^rd over c&d last year he will stand a small chance.

½ Point win Silvery Moon 16/1 Bet365 and others

2:15 York

Tax Free was still producing the goods last year on a few occasions and won here last year from Mass Rally, of 4lbs higher. He also had a good 2^nd at Ripon and a few other decent performances. I Thought his last run a little over a week ago showed some spark and but for the fact that he got tight for room 1 furlong out he may well have been a lot closer than he was. He is down another 2lbs for that that has to give him a small chance here. 28/1 looks a bit of value and worth a min bet

½ Point EW Bet365 28/1

3:50 York

Cosmic Sun is a formally decent horse who has been very poor for the last year or two. I’m not sure why I think there is a small chance that could change tomorrow, but if he were to show anything at all this mark will give him a chance. A top stable has stuck with him for a long time for it to be completely worthless and he is tried in a tongue tie tomorrow in the hopes of finding the key. Its more gut feeling than anything, and I’d be raging not to have a min bet at decent odds just in case my gut feeling was correct.

½ Point win 32 Betfair

4:15 Killarney

Noble Prince won’t need to be at his best to win this race today. Although he was on the face of it poor enough last time out at Punchestown, he was never going to get close there so it was hardly a surprise. He has shown some scraps of form this year, and this race around here looks ideal for him. The Fav Dedigout looks overrated having basically beaten nothing and looking for all the  world as needing further. If the application of blinkers does anything at all here he should stand a great chance. I had a look this morning and said to myself if he went to 4/1 I’d be interested., so the current 5.8 on Betfair looks great value. He is also 4/1 with Bet365.

2 Points win 5.8 Betfair

Barizan came good for me today after a long wait for his perfect conditions. As predicted he never got caught and took advantage of his light weight and fast ground. It was my biggest bet ever at 6 points total for a huge 66 point profit including at 20p Rule4

A couple of minutes later Excellent Guest, went and won the Victoria Handicap at 25/1, to cap probably the best day ever for the site.

3:30 Haydock

I’ve been waiting a long time for Barizan to get his ideal conditions and it’s finally here. He was poor over the last year or 2 but came back to life lately on unsuitable ground with a good win and an equally good 4^th in the Imperial Cup. The trainer says he has sorted out his issues and if that is the case he has a huge amount in his favour here. He is on a great mark, has absolutely top class form on good or better ground, only being unplaced once, and that was a very good 6^th at the Festival of 12lbs higher. His form reads 13111223611 on his favoured ground. He didn’t get in to anything at the festival of this mark and I’m hoping he’s been waiting for an opportunity. The 20/1 with Bet Victor looks exceptional value, and although I’m tempted to wait and see if anyone will beat that, it’s a great price, & I’ll be going in again if the price is better anywhere else. It think there is a significant chance that it’ll be a case of Barizan never getting caught tomorrow with his light weight and fast ground.

3pts EW 20/1 VCBET

3:50 Ascot

IT won’t be a surprise to anyone that has seen my previous selections that I’m going to side with Excellent Guest here tomorrow. He has an excellent course record and has generally performed well in these types of races. He has been knocked back to what looks a very reasonable mark here of 93, for a poor run at the end of last season, and considering his 2^nd here in the Royal Hunt Cup last year of 1 lb higher he should be able to get competitive  here of that mark. He has run well in the past first time out and generally goes better on decent ground. 25/1 5 places with a few bookies looks very decent and worth a bet given his level of consistency in these races.

1 Point EW 25/1 5 Places 365/Paddy/Sky

2:05 Ascot

I can’t not have a bet on Australia Day here tomorrow. He absolutely scooted up over fences a week ago on fast ground and on the best of his flat form he is well in here. It’s a pity there are no fences to jump but he obviously is in great form and I’ll have to have a bit of the 8/1 available. He could well be hard to catch around here in his favoured conditions

2 Points win 8/1 generally

Haydock 4:40

I’m not one for generally backing favourites in these handicaps, but I thought Attaglance would be shorter here. He is very well in on his chase mark after a few poor enough novice chase runs. He seems to prefer good ground judging by his very good end of the season last year, with good wins at both Cheltenham and Aintree. The Aintree race was won of a mark of 144, which does make his chase mark of 133 very interesting. We’re taking it on trust that hell improve now handicapping but I’m prepared to take that chance at the best price of 7/1

2 Points win 7/1 Ladbrokes and others

Ascot 4:25

Rocket Rob, ran an eye-catching race last time at Sandown when coming from last to snatch 2^nd behind Tagula Night. That run looks to confirm that a step up to 6 furlongs will be an advantage and he looks overpriced here at 20/1. He has been competitive of higher marks in the past and has been reasonably consistent. The draw at the lower end is probably fine and he’s worth a small EW bet.

1 Point EW 20/1 BetVictor / Sporting Bet/Betfair