Yesterday’s Review
0.75pt e/way Tactical Command (101) – The selection enjoyed the benefits of a beautiful trip round unlike his main rivals in the betting. However, when asked to go about his business in the home straight the response was limited. He somehow managed to come up short of the places when headed by California Deeply near the finish. Despite winning two races already this season he looks one to have reservations about.
Today’s Advice
HAVE SECRET (9f 170y Hcap) – This five-year-old produced a career best effort when last seen over this course and distance last month. On that occasion he raced in touch with the leaders before leading over two furlongs from home on the way to a ready four and three quarter lengths victory. He has since performed with credit at York finishing in third place behind Thunder Run, beaten just a length and a quarter off an eight pound higher mark.
The handicapper has raised him another pound for that effort, and it will be interesting to see if he can reproduce his previous best round here. Billy Garritty is on board again for today’s (3.50) Ripon, and he was won on three of his last six rides at the track for trainer Richard Fahey.
Favourite Padishakh looked a transformed character when landing a gamble over the extended mile at Nottingham having made the switch from the David O’Meara stable to Edward Bethell. He has decent form at this venue from last season, and will provide a stern enough test for the son of Havana Gold.
BULLETIN (8f Hcap) – A decent card at Sandown for tonight’s Brigadier St Gerard Group 3 meeting, and with the ground described as Good (Good To Firm Places) on the Round course with a Going Stick reading of 6.4 we shouldn’t be expecting any track records to be broken.
The selection raced last time out at Ascot on ground that was faster than advertised resulting in a track record lowered by Get It over six furlongs. With the ground closer to standard for tonight’s racing, conditions should be a lot more suitable for the son of Advertise.
His runner-up finish behind Celeborn at Epsom rates as the top speed figure of today’s contestants, and I am willing to give him another chance to show his true ability in tonight’s (6.05) Sandown. There are plenty of unexposed dangers in opposition such as the Ryan Moore ridden favourite Rockin’ The Boat, but the selection looks worth an interest at the prices on offer to pose a bigger threat this time around. Rob Hornby takes over from David Egan, and Rob has finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the selection the three times he has ridden him.
NORTHERN ATTITUDE (7f Hcap) – This three-year-old improved greatly last time out when first-time blnkers were applied finishing second beaten a half length by Gangsta Man at Roscommon over the extended seven furlongs. Previously unplaced in three starts, he travelled prominently and kept on well to the line just going down by a half length. That effort looks to be the standout one on the clock for tonight’s (7.27) Fairyhouse, and a reproduction of that would see him difficult to beat.
Trainer Diego Dias is still looking for his first winner of the season on the level, although he has hit the crossbar three times from just thirteen horses.
1pt win Have Secret (11/4 William Hill, 5/2 General) 3.50 Ripon
0.5pt e/way Bulletin (6/1 Paddy Power/Ladbrokes/Coral) 6.05 Sandown
0.5pt e/way Northern Attitude (15/2 William Hill, 7/1 General 4 places) 7.27 Fairyhouse