It’s been a busy week and I’m glad it’s over. It was my father-in-law’s funeral yesterday and we had all the guests back to the farm – it was a pleasant do in sad circumstances with a fair bit of work getting ready for it. It was also Betfair’s strategy week and I attended as much of that as I could. There’s a board meeting on Monday and then the summer starts – roll on Ascot and Wimbledon.
There isn’t much I want to back today – I’m unlikely to have anything other than the odd bet for fun.
At York in the first Michaela Sowerby takes the ride on Risk for Charlie Egerton. Michaela usually rides Max One Two Three on the gallops – she’s never sat on Risk before, but she’s a very capable jockey and would outride most in this race. Luca Cumani farms this race and will probably win again, but I’ll have a little each way on Risk.
Brave Prospector goes in the 3.25, and Pete told me a couple of weeks ago that he’d “worked him out”. He’ll be one to follow, perhaps each way today. Tom saddles Firth of Fifth in the 4:30 and he’s in good form now – Zaskar came second in France yesterday and Naughty Thoughts won at a nice price. Tom thinks FoF will take a lot of beating – if the price holds up I’ll be backing him.
In the 5:40 at Bath I’m interested in Fair Sailing a a big price. This looks like a careful placement and 10f and top weight in a handicap might do the trick for her. In the 7:15 at Leics Black Salix looks interesting. She may have been run off her feet last time in what looked like a hot maiden – this is another hot looking maiden, but she has a run under her belt, it’s over further and the ground looks better for a dirt bred type. Each way again at a big price.