You know it is getting bad when there is a meeting at HQ and the Timeform column on SportingLife.com is tipping three horses, two of which are making their turf debuts (one a handicap debutant) and the other is a short priced favourite for a twelve runner handicap.
As I have a case of seconditis this week (an improvement on recent form), here is today’s offering for forecast punters if you can find the winner:
The 5:45 looks like a trappy little sprint with just nine at the time of writing (one non-runner). Watch My Tracer is clearly well regarded, having contested the Coventry as a juvenile but both starts this year have been at seven furlongs, a Listed win on the kitty litter and a no-show in the Greenham but he looks quite exposed and will find it hard giving weight away to some improving types now dropped back to sprinting. Well related handicap debutant Jehangeer ran creditably when last seen but a starting mark of 93 against race fit rivals has me looking elsewhere. Similar remarks could apply to Warm Spell, who ran two of his three juvenile races over seven furlongs and starts off 91 over a furlong less. After winning a York novice, The Coffee Pod has been underwhelming in three subsequent starts, most recently a modest third in a Windsor handicap over five furlongs so it is hard to see him being involved at the business end today. After breaking his duck at the third attempt on the kitty litter, Completely Random switched to turf over course and distance last time and never featured in a valuable race on Guineas day so he might be one to watch here with his sights lowered as that was only his fourth start. After winning over five on his 2024 debut on kitty litter, Cargin Bhui had his fourth start of the campaign at Chester but was well beaten in the race where Garfield Shadow and Al Shabab Storm fought out the finish. Only a neck separated the front two and now the runner-up is 1lb better off in the rematch; however, he was race fit that day and I expect unbeaten Garfield Shadow to come out on top again although Fahey warns in his column about the quick turnaround after a hard race. So that leads me to today’s runner up contender, WOODHAY WONDER, who clearly loves this course and distance having brought up a hat-trick when making all for Tom Marquand in April. Her career record is 4 wins from 7 starts, she races off a 5lb higher mark today and I should get a run for my money even if that burden proves to be too much... at least Oli Bell is not tipping her!
