There must be a fierce optimist in charge of the Twitter feed for Catterick Bridge racecourse, where rain is forecast throughout the morning but it will be “warm and dry this afternoon, just in time for racing”, according to a tweet from the track about an hour ago. At Bath, however, there is a more stoical outlook: “Brave the British Summer‚ gates open midday.”
I suspect Catterick has it right, since cheery optimism in the face of all the evidence is essential if you like to bet on the horses. But it is right in another sense as well, as it also includes an update on the going, which is good-to-soft having been dry since the weekend.
Good-to-soft was fine for Faraday’s Spark (3.00) last time out, when Richard Fahey’s colt finished one-and-a-half lengths behind Give Em A Clump at Thirsk.
While that was just a seller, it was run in a reasonable time and Faraday’s Spark showed a similar level of form to that when winning a seller at Redcar in June. An opening mark of 62 for nurseries means that he gets nearly a stone from Seaella, the favourite, and that makes him the bet in the race at around 6-1.
Bernie’s Boy (3.30) ran well at this track last time out and has form with some cut, so he could be overpriced at around 10-1 for the subsequent claimer, while Fumbo Jumbo (4.00) was much improved on her first start for Michael Dods at York last time and also has a win on soft ground to her name.
Farleigh Mac (3.10) was an excellent second at Chepstow last week and is 1lb lower today with the useful Joshua Bryan taking off another 5lb, and he should be difficult to beat at Bath.
Sandown’s meeting this evening is the most valuable card of the day, but the ground is soft there already and more rain seems certain before the first race at 6pm.
It will not make life any easier for punters, but Almoreb (6.35) won a maiden on soft ground at Newbury in May and has run well at today’s track on both his subsequent starts. The step back up to a mile from seven furlongs last time out should also suit.
On the same card, Clowance One (8.10) has not raced on turf since October 2015 but has form on heavy going, and is up just 5lb since a convincing success at Kempton Park this month.
Greg Wood’s Wednesday tips
Bath 2.10 Golden Salute 2.40 Burauq 3.10 Farleigh Mac 3.40 Really Super 4.10 Innoko 4.40 Famous Dynasty 5.10 Waves
Catterick Bridge 2.00 Placebo Effect 2.30 Star Of Zaam 3.00 Faradays Spark 3.30 Bernie’s Boy 4.00 Fumbo Jumbo 4.30 Cupid’s Arrow 5.00 Deben 5.30 King Of The Celts
Lingfield Park 2.20 Oswald 2.50 Tie Em Up Tel 3.20 Ice Slice 3.50 Baby Gal 4.20 Its A Sheila Thing 4.50 Regal Miss 5.20 Perla Blanca
Leicester 5.45 Carlovian 6.15 Tenby Two 6.45 Chancery 7.20 Kirkham 7.50 Indian Raj 8.20 La Havrese 8.50 Majestic Stone
Sandown Park 6.00 Sir Jack 6.35 Almoreb (nap) 7.10 Sam Gold 7.40 Sultan Baybars 8.10 Clowance One (nb) 8.40 Alsvinder
