Another uninspiring bunch of bank holiday meetings. Jumps punters will probably be sifting through the form at Cartmel as they have one of their rare fixtures but the days have long gone when racecourses put on any decent fare when they know that punters will show up for dross – lots of Class 5 and 6 races at Leicester, Redcar and Windsor.
The Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar looks numerically competitive but I have my doubts about Winter House (gelded, beaten in Lingfield event and now in first time cheek pieces) and Central Square (won ordinary maiden, handicap debut but yard in top form). Had a look at Timeform top-rated Tawdeea but a soft ground maiden win followed by Newcastle’s polytrack leaves something to find. The obvious alternative is from the stable of last year’s winner, 100-rated REVOLUTIONIST, who I think looks a good prospect to make all and collect a good prize under Joe Fanning.
Over at Windsor in the 4:35, I am going to take on favourite Shakopee (beaten favourite at HQ on debut) and top weight American Artist with PERFECT CRACKER, who finished in front of Roger Varian’s charge at Chester and can confirm that running even on revised terms for a yard with a 25 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight.
