Yesterday’s Review

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Today’s Advice

PHOTOSYNTHESIS (6f Hcap) – This four-year-old gelding had been improving nicely through the sprinting ranks when trained by Tom Clover during the 2024 Winter All-Weather season winning two handicaps. He has since been switched to the Peter Chapple-Hyam stable, and been gelded before his seasonal debut in a Class 3 handicap last month at Newbury. That was the first time he had seen the racecourse in 406 days, and it would have been understandable that he may have needed the race. The first and second on the day, Havanagreattime and Change Sings, both raced prominently and the selection finished best of all posting the fastest final two furlongs of the contest in 23.77 seconds. He also recorded a strong (110) speed figure for the grade, and looks to be better than ever. The handicapper has left him unchanged for today’s (3.25) Ascot, and any improvement should see him very competitive in a similar class race.

 

COROLLA POINT (6f Hcap) – This lightly raced three year-old caught the eye last time out at Doncaster over six furlongs when finishing best of all into fourth place on seasonal debut behind Sixtygeesbaby. The pace was slow on the day, and suited the first three home who raced prominently. The son of Blue Point was held up in rear, and ran on nicely in the final furlong under Dougie Costello. The pair team up again for the (4.00) Ascot, and an opening mark of 82 looks workable going forward. He looks to have some of the strongest turf form on offer, and it will be interesting to see if current favourite Tuco Salamanca can reproduce his recent all-weather form back on turf.

 

BULLETIN/NIMINY PIMINY (8f Hcap) – The Johnny Portman stable have been in decent form the past few weeks with winners Thunderous Love and Rumstar doing the business for the Lambourn trainer. Bulletin improved for the switch from the all-weather to the turf at Epsom recently when chasing home the well-handicapped George Boughey improver Celeborn. The son of Advertise recorded a career best (106) speed figure on the clock, and while the winner was much the best, the selection didn’t get the cleanest of runs through at the business end.

David Egan has been booked for the ride for today’s (4.35) Ascot, and he has ridden stable favourite Two Tempting to victory twice last season. There are plenty of dangers who also provide strong handicap form on the turf including The Trickster, Fearnot and I Am Me.

One who has yet to race on turf is the current favourite Niminy Piminy. Although her Racing Post ratings look to have her around the right handicap mark of 80, there is a strong chance that she could be very well handicapped. She won nicely at Southwell last time out by a length, and although the final time is not strong her sectional performance from two furlongs out would indicate that she could be a lot better than the handicapper may think. I have adjusted her sectional times using my going allowance, and her performance looks very similar to two very decent horses that would appear well ahead of a handicap mark of 80 when they won their respective races. The William Haggas trained Tiber Flow who recorded a Racing Post Rating of 105 when winning on the 5th March 2022 over the same course and distance, and the James Ferguson trained Zoology who recorded a RPR of 92+ when winning on the 4th April 2023 over the seven furlongs at Southwell before being rated 110 by the handicapper.

A slowly run race on Tapeta at Southwell may be a long way from a truly run race on turf at Ascot, but I will have a small interest in her as she does look a fascinating contestant.

 

ELANA OSARIO (9f 138y Mdn) – This four-year-old filly has looked a shade unlucky not to have broken her maiden tag already. She has not finished outside of the first three in her last four races, and the distance for tonight’s (6.10) Ballinrobe appears to be just right when looking at her latest efforts. She improved her Racing Post Rating by eighteen pounds over the course of her last two efforts on the turf last season when finishing second to two Aidan O’Brien trained fillies. Her last performance at The Curragh over twelve furlongs appeared to stretch her as she looked all over the winner when she took up the running three furlongs from home, and was just worn down inside the final furlong by Rubies Are Red.

While her seasonal debut over the mile at Dundalk may appear disappointing considering she was beaten as a short priced favourite, the front three home finished nicely clear of the field and the winning time was very strong for the grade. Colin Keane has been booked for the ride, and he has a solid record for the Paddy Twomey stable with three winners and five places from nine rides.

Current favourite Light Up The Dark looks short enough in the betting having won two National Hunt Flat races so far, and I am happy to side with the selection who holds the highest official rating of these on the Flat.

 

1pt e/way Photosynthesis (6/1 General) 3.25 Ascot

1pt e/way Corolla Point (9/2 William Hill, 4/1 General 5 places only) 4.00 Ascot

1pt win Bulletin (6/1 General) 4.35 Ascot

1pt win Niminy Piminy (3/1 William Hill, 11/4 General) 4.35 Ascot

1pt win Elana Osario (5/2 General) 6.10 Ballinrobe