Yesterday’s Review

1pt e/way Out Of Shadows – Marco Botti’s gelding flopped recording a speed figure of (89) and finishing last of eight beaten 15L. A performance too bad to be true.

1pt e/way Jewel Maker – A missed opportunity for the selection who would have gone very close to winning but for an error from jockey David Allan to go up the inside of Western Beat approaching the 3f pole. From there it was always going to be difficult to get the gaps to pass seven horses on the inside in such little time.

1pt e/way Hey Pretty – The slowest race on the card and it looked like being prominent was a big advantage. Unfortunately, the selection wasn’t the best out of the stalls and gave away early position. It would have been nice to finish in the first three having been backed from 28/1 into 5/1 but in the end he found one too good.

Today’s Advice

Esculenta (8f Lst) – Considering the handicapper has only raised her 3lbs to a mark of (87) it mightn’t seem the best decision to run Esculenta in a Listed race nearly a stone worst off at the weights for the (3.40) Navan. If she can get an uncontested lead like last time when recording a big speed figure (112), she may be able to obtain some Black Type for connections providing she is as effective going left handed.

May Blossom (5f Hcap) David O’Meara’s filly bounced back to form lto at Carlisle over the minimum trip with the visor re-applied when runner-up behind Princess Karine. She is now 1lb below her last winning handicap mark of (77) and has the added bonus of man of the moment apprentice Mark Winn taking another valuable 3lbs off. Mark has won on his last three rides according to The Racing Post, and the selection is also a dual C/D winner. My only concern is that she hasn’t got the brightest of early pace but hopefully the likes of Majeski Man, Reigning Profit and Murbih can ensure a true test.

Shining Aitch (10f Hcap) I have been waiting nearly a year to catch this horse again since his super performance over C/D from a bad draw in stall (21) behind Charles Byrnes’ Boom Boom Boom. Unfortunately, as he is a hold up performer, he needs plenty of pace to aim at, and he hasn’t really had those conditions much on the Flat. Connections have also been trying their hand over Jumps with him and he doesn’t seem to have taken to them at all. A first time tongue tie is also tried which dampens enthusiasm somewhat, but I am willing to have a small interest back at the scene of his last great performance in the (5.10) Navan. In the same race I can’t resist the minmum stake on Noel Hynds 6-y-o gelding Court Of Appeal. This horse hasn’t been seen in 475 days when just failing to land a gamble over 8f at Dundalk when recording a huge speed figure of (108) under the welter burden of 10st 2lbs. A win over 9f at Leopardstown and an unlucky eighth place finish at this track at the backend of 2021 shows that he has plenty of ability on the Turf as well. Now just rated (63) and with the excellent Conor Stone-Walsh taking off another valuable 7lbs, it would be no surprise if he outran his current odds on offer.

0.5pt e/way Esculenta (16/1 Generally) 3.40 Navan

1pt e/way May Blossom (9/1 William Hill/888sport 17/2 Generally) 3.45 Beverley

0.5pt e/way Shining Aitch (18/1 5 places Paddy Power BetVictor 16/1 Generally) 5.10 Navan

0.5pt e/way Court Of Appeal (25/1 5 places Paddy Power/Betvictor/Boyles/Betfred) 5.10 Navan