I cannot remember the last time that I was left so completely bemused by Saturday’s televised racing! We have an odd mixture of All-weather racing from Kempton and some packed National Hunt fields at Haydock. The jumps racing is at that odd time of season where the going has changed and everyone is trying to get a race into their horses before the summer.
Friday’s All-weather Championship at Lingfield was a great success, not least for our followers with three winners courtesy of Ertijaal, Captain Cat and Grandeur. Only the well-backed Valbchek let us down but I had my suspicions that I ought not to be trying to untangle that particular sprint. The programmers made a big fuss of launching the new meeting on Good Friday but I’d suggest they switch it to Saturday next year to replace the moderate stuff we have on offer tomorrow.
The Newmarket Craven meeting served to remind us once again that, if in doubt, back John Gosden’s horses. He was not quite able to match his magnificent seven from Newbury last weekend but he served up three more well-backed winners. Hopefully a few of you were on the Provident Spirit/Munjaz double on Wednesday.
Tomorrow he saddles four horses, all on the turf at Nottingham. Two of them are in the same race but the form suggests that it is safe to exclude Seagull from our calculations and look for a treble with the remainder.
Paul Hanagan (I shall resist the temptation to join the band wagon slating him for his ride on Aljamaaheer) partners Zerfaal, a twice-raced son of Dubawi. He was a fair sixth on his debut at Newbury when strongly fancied last August. He was then made favourite at Kempton last month but found Crystal Lake too good. He was given a bit to do that day and has a decent chance to go one better here.
William Buick is aboard Gilbey’s Mate in the 6.45, a handicap over a mile. He ran in some smart maiden company last season. If you look at the form of his Newmarket debut he sounds like a good thing. Oustrip beat True Story with Sudden Wonder in fourth. All three are owned by Godolphin and have classic entries, the last two of them having won at Newmarket in midweek.
Court Room has been placed twice in Lingfield maidens and is the best of those with previous form. There may well be something to beat him with the likes of Stoute and Bin Suroor in opposition but we’ll go with the Gosden factor. Seagull is by Sea The Stars out of an Indian Ridge mare but I’m hoping that Buick’s decision to stick with Court Room is significant.
Zerfaal 4.45
Gilbey’s Mate 6.45 at 7-2 Bet365, Paddy Power
Court Room 7.15
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
