Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at York, Chester and Musselburgh on Saturday. View selections below.
FENCING (3.15) has failed to fulfilled his earlier three-year-old potential but John Gosden has found him a winning opportunity in the Ganton Stakes at York. The colt had Classic aspirations two seasons ago before his suspect stamina was exposed when only third behind Bonfire in the 2012 Dante Stakes. Gosden was quick to return him to a mile and Fencing duly landed a nice prize at Ascot. He has since struggled to poke his head in front and the trainer turned to a first-time hood at Windsor last time when Fencing came with what looked a winning run between horses, only to be run out of it close home by Ocean Tempest. With seven runners going to post, this Listed event could become tactical and Frankie Dettori is the right man to have aboard on the Knavesmire.
Gosden saddles lightly-raced filly BETIMES (3.50) in the Betbright Charity Sprint over six furlongs. The filly won on her debut at Lingfield in December and was pitched straight into the 1000 Guineas where she was messed about at the start and never figured. Betimes reverted to six furlongs next time in the Timeform Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and, after pulling hard early, she ran on strongly to split winner Aeolus and Parbold. With a maximum field spread across the track, Rab Havlin should have no trouble settling Betimes, despite an exposed draw in stall two.
Another trainer with prospects of a Saturday double is Jim Goldie at Musselburgh. JONNY DELTA (3.00) broke the 1m 6f track record in April and this winning hurdler will have no trouble getting the extra two furlongs of the Stobo Castle Ladies Day Cup. Now 2lb higher, Jonny Delta requires a strong pace to set up his late thrust and stablemate Caledonia could cut out the donkey work in this department. There was persistent rain forecast for Friday afternoon and this could turn into a real stamina test.
Soft ground is essential for Goldie’s GO GO GREEN (2.30) and he could pop up at a big ew price in the William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Consolation Race. Five furlongs is on the sharp side and a rails pitch over course and distance last Saturday was no assistance to strong finisher Go Go Green as he ran out of racing room inside the final furlong. A draw in the middle of the track this time should give Samantha Bell more elbow room and the horse comes here in peak form, having scored at Haydock on his previous start.
There is a rare mid-afternoon start at Chester where LLANARMON LAD (4.15) is fancied to build on his excellent second to well handicapped Abseil in the Investec Mile at Epsom last weekend. My selection mounted his challenge down the middle of the track but a plum draw in stall one should see him scraping paint round the Roodee before unleashing a late rattle.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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