This is one of those days when you could start to wonder whether the perennial complaint that there is “too much racing” just might have something going for it. But these are also the days that keep things ticking over until the Group One action begins at Newmarket this weekend, no one is obliged to bet on it and there are, in all fairness, a few interesting runners and races dotted around the programme.
Prabeni (Chelmsford 6.50), for instance, is the first runner from the Wood Ditton at Newmarket’s Craven meeting to return to the track and offer a clue to the value of the form, which can vary wildly from one year to the next as the race is restricted to unraced three-year-olds. Prabeni was one of the more eye-catching runners in this year’s Wood Ditton, which was won by the 25-1 outsider Sawwah, as he ran on strongly from well off the pace to finish fifth. The step up to 10 furlongs should also suit him well and at around 5-2, he is a very interesting proposition against the warm favourite, Main Street.
Puds is another clear favourite on the Chelmsford card following a successful handicap debut from a mark of 75 on her return to action at Kempton Park last month.
Whether she should be quite as short as 2-1 in a competitive and valuable race is another question, and she is 9lb higher in the weights for a one-and-three quarter length win. There may be less to choose between Puds and a couple of her rivals than the odds suggest and Gold Filigree (7.50) in particular is worth an interest at around 11-2. Richard Hughes’s runner was well backed for her seasonal debut last month and duly showed improved form to finish a good second to Dotted Swiss. She is 3lb higher here but Nicola Currie takes off 5lb and anything close to that form would make her a very live runner tonight.
Insurgence (4.00) was progressive towards the end of last year and picked up where he left off with a win at Lingfield in early April. He is the type to stay ahead of the handicapper for a little while yet and looks like the best bet on Lingfield’s card this afternoon, while Plansina (5.10) and Artful Rogue (7.10) also have decent chances at their odds on the turf cards at Redcar and Musselburgh, respectively.
Lingfield 2.00 Paddy A 2.30 Angelina D’Or 3.00 What A Party 3.30 Captain Lars 4.00 Insurgence (nb) 4.30 Belated Breath 5.00 Mac O’Polo
Redcar 2.10 Tarrzan 2.40 Queen Penn 3.10 Robsdelight 3.40 Poet’s Prince 4.10 Al Khan 4.40 Canadian George 5.10 Plansina
Southwell 2.20 Go On Gal 2.50 Serenity Now 3.20 Victory Wave 3.50 Monks Stand 4.20 Best Tamayuz 4.50 Indian Tinker 5.20 Samtu
Musselburgh 5.40 Dawoodi 6.10 Amadeus 6.40 Soldier’s Minute 7.10 Artful Rogue 7.40 Carpet Time 8.10 Harbour Patrol 8.40 Elite Icon
Chelmsford City 5.50 Pocket Dynamo 6.20 Reveleon 6.50 Prabeni 7.20 Pearl Spectre 7.50 Gold Filigree (nap) 8.20 Highly Focused 8.50 Jeremiah
Tips by Greg Wood.
