A maiden race over 7f for colts and one filly.
Tinkertown and Local Singer will be on many people's short list to gain their first victory after running very similar races at Redcar last time over 6f. To be fair, both looked to be outpaced with a couple of furlongs to go but rallied well under strong riding to close at the finish and a shade unlucky not to have nabbed the eventual winner Bay Of Fires. There is little to choose between the pair although Tinkertown was given a harder race at Redcar. This 7f should not be a problem and in a weak race connections will be disappointed if their respective runners don't go well. It will be a tough call to choose between this pair and if the lesser fancied in the betting drifts to an each way price that would be my idea of the solution.
Tim Easterby has three two-year-olds taking their chances today. Of these Anddante is an interesting candidate. This son of Antonious Pius is an out and out galloper. His third at Ripon reads well. Perhaps that run was something of a surprise to connections as he started a 25/1 shot that day but always travelled well and the form of the front two looks solid. The following run at Newcastle is difficult to assess and in many ways seems a shade disappointing. Hanagan pressed on with front-running tactics and it just might be the case he went a fraction too fast. Anddante tired in the last half furlong to finish a few lengths behind the principles in a race that at the time looked to set a fair standard. The second, Sophie's Hero, has since disappointed but that may have been due to the sticky ground at Carlisle. You have to consider that trainers know best with regard to stepping up in distance and this two-year-old could be a decent bet at a price. The run at Ripon didn't looked to be a fluke so I would consider his last race at Newcastle was a slightly disappointing effort and give this juvenile the benefit of the doubt today.
Mark Johnston has had a terrible start to the season with his two-year-olds with the majority finishing nearer last than first. He had his first winner at Leicester the other day so the stable may be coming out of the doldrums. This bay colt by Cadeaux Genereux cost £80,000 and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum. With the stable having been in such poor form I would watch Mutajare today.
Other races:
2:30 Ascot
4:05 Ayr
4:30 Newmarket
5:50 Lingfield
7:05 Haydock