PADDOCKS PATENT (FRIDAY)

17:10 Haydock 

Threat Assessed showed little on his racourse debut but was heavily backed on his return to action at Chepstow and he duly bolted up. The handicapper has hardly taken a chance with his mark today but the manner of that Chepstow performance is hard to ignore and he can go in again before going onto better things. Mywayistheonlyway makes appeal and has a likable attitude, he isnt sure to get this far but he wants respecting as do Cambodia and Huntlaw. Poet’s Bounty stepped up on his previous efforts when winning at Leicester and went into my notebook immediately afterwards, his toughness promises at more to come but this is much deeper than i would have wanted for him. Amazement deserved his victory at Ripon last time and is almost sure to be strong at the end, the handicapper showed no mercy by handing him a 6lbs penalty for that but he is greatly respected anyway.

Threat Assessed (WIN)

18:30 Pontefract

This looks fairly competitive for the grade and most have something to be recommended on. Dual Course and distance winner Talent Scout is now 10 years old and hasn’t won for almost 2 years, as a result he finds himself on a good mark today and is of obvious interest. A fair 4th at Beverly when attempting to make all earlier in the month, he will likely adopt the same tactics here and is taken to run the finish out of most. Pumaflor has every chance and is one of the least exposed of these, a winner over C&D he will surely go close but his mark leaves little margin for error and his price is short enough. Auspicioun has frustrated since joining this yard and is hard to predict, any market move would be very interesting but there will be easier opportunities down the line. Janab, Lopes Dancer and Pivotman are others with decent claims but the veteran Talent Scout appeals most.

Talent Scout (E/W if 9/2+)

19:00 Pontefract

Touch The Sky had shown promise in maidens in 2013 before injury struck, on his return from a long lay off at Chepstow he once again showed promise before well and truly blotting his copybook at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago. A half brother to Leger hero Sixties Icon, todays extra yardage really ough to suit and though he has something to prove, he is selected handed a tentative vote. Chillworth Bells did me a favour when dotting up at Doncaster earlier in the season, a winner again since then he will have no problems with todays conditions and is respected as such. Busy Street is unexposed and ran much better than his finishing position would suggest at York last time out. Promising on earlier efforts the Swinbank challenger looks sure to go close and Fallon on top is another positive. Poetic Verse is frustrating but hails from a yard going well, he should come on for a recent run at Thirsk and he looks the best of the others.

Touch The Sky (WIN)