Thursday 21st May

Haydock
1.50
Murcar 0.5pt win - 5th
Zuwaar 0.25pt E/W - unpl
3.35
Cara's Request 1.5pt win - 7th
Mr Hichens 0.25pt win - 6th
Visions Of Johanna 0.25pt win - 5th
4.10
Secret Witness 1pt win - unpl
Arrivederla 0.25pt E/W - WON 16/1 (adv)
5.20
Uncle Bertie 0.5pt win - unpl
Princess Rainbow 0.25pt E/W - WON 25/1 (adv) 30p R4 applies

Goodwood
2.50 Mister Ross 0.5pt E/W - unpl
4.00 Fallen In Love 0.25pt E/W - 2nd 20/1 (adv)
4.35 Crimson Fern 1pt win - 6th

(+4.72pts)


Update Message (Evening Racing)

Salisbury
6.30 Manchester Maverick 0.5pt win - 7th

Sandown
6.20 King Of Wands 0.5pt win - 2nd
6.20 El Bravo 0.5pt win - 5th
7.25 Antinori 0.5pt win - WON 4/1 (adv)
8.35 Lady Brora 0.5pt E/W - unpl

(-0.5pt)

I'll start at Haydock where Murcar failed to see out the 1m6f on soft ground in the 1.50. In the same race Zuwaar found the ground too easy also, as feared.

Cara's Request looked well handicapped and despite being well backed for his seasonal debut he was a big disappointment in the 3.35.

Arrivederla was a surprisingly big price for her handicap debut in the 4.10, she impressed me at Lingfield previously and at the odds I had to get involved. She looked the winner some way out and only had to be kept up to her work to score. Secret Witness looked unhappy from an early stage and is surely better than this.

The 5.20 had an open look about it and I wanted to take on those at the head of the market. Princess Rainbow (a loser for the line on her previous start) was sure to appreciate the give underfoot and looked well handicapped and over priced on her three maiden starts of last year.
I was prepared to forgive her disappointing seasonal reappearance, due to the quicker going and the possibility of her needing the run, and took the 25/1 that was on offer in the morning. She was subject of plenty of support on course and after heavy pressure she stayed on to score. There was a hefty rule 4 to pay on the advised price but it was still a huge return compared to her SP of 11/2.

Over at Goodwood, Ivory Lace looked an unlucky loser in the handicap at 2.50. Mister Ross put in a puzzling effort in the same race, he travelled well before weakening quickly and finishing last.

Fallen In Love is a much under rated filly and has bundles of improvement in her. Again I thought this was an over priced horse in the morning. Her odds of 20/1 couldn't be ignored and a small E/W bet was advised. She took this step up in class in her stride and looked the likely winner until the swooping challenge of Moneycantbuymelove. If backing a 20/1 2nd wasn't frustrating enough, I had planned to back/tip her on her intended seasonal debut (pulled out due to ground) a couple of weeks ago - that was at 5/1 in a handicap off a mark 77! Definitely the one that got away.

Crimson Fern paid the price for being too keen early on in the sprint at 4.35.

King Of Wands and El Bravo ran solid races in the 6.20 at Sandown and can definitely figure in more handicaps over the summer.

Antinori took the eye on his last start at Sandown and previously ran into the useful Set The Trend. He looked a winner waiting to happen and defeat never looked in question in the 7.25.

The hype surrounding Leocorno was justified and she turned the 8.35 into a procession. Lady Brora would have been placed with a clear run and should find a race soon.