_edited.png)
13:10 Lingfield
We begin today with a class four novice hurdle at Lingfield where Kind Edmund and Krakatoa King renew rivalries. King Edmund arrives here looking to complete a hat-trick after twice returning a winning favourite in December, beating the aforementioned Krakatoa King at Plumpton when last seen. Despite his recent form I think that he may struggle to concede a stone to Krakatoa King, although jockey Sean Bowen does claim a valuable 5lbs.
Krakatoa King has now finished second twice since going over hurdles and on both occasions finished well clear of third. He pushed Kind Edmund all the way when they last met and should benefit from the increase in trip here considering the difference in weights, gaining his first win in the process.
Of the remainder, Theunnamedsoldier finished third behind the highly rated Value At Risk at Newbury in December and looks the most likely to benefit from a poor performance from either of the other two.
Krakatoa King (WIN)
13:50 Wolverhampton
Our second selection races at Wolves in this competitive looking fillies’ handicap over six furlongs. Previous course and distance winner Queen Aggie is the forecast favourite and has been in good form recently with one win and three places in her last five races. She is opposed today as this is her third race in less than two weeks and she has raced off todays’ mark on three occasions without getting her head in front.
Medam is another who is proven over course and distance, having won two from eight. She finished second when last seen in November but was beaten by a 50/1 shot and is still 3lbs higher than her last winning mark so preference is for Joly Red Jeanz.
Jolly Red Jeanz is a consistent four year old who has placed in her last three races and boasts a 70% strike rate for finishes inside the first three when racing on an all-weather surface. Although not a prolific winner, her last AW win came over todays’ trip at Kempton when running off the same mark as she runs off today.
Jolly Red Jeanz (E/W if 5/1+)
16:20 Wolverhampton
We stay at Wolves for the final race of the day, where our selection Thomas Blossom looks likely to head the market. The only one of this nine-strong field proven over todays’ trip, he is also the only one with a recent win to his name. He could only manage third at Lingfield in November but the form of this races holds up well as Planetoid, who finished first, has gone on to score a hat-trick and second placed Celestial Bay has also gone on to win since. On his most recent run, at Kempton in December, he ran out a comfortable two length winner and should be able to confirm this form and prove to be too strong for his rivals here.
The Yank is the most likely to benefit from a poor run from the selection and may be one for forecast backers. He is yet to register a win in ten runs but has placed on three occasions, most recently when returning from a seven month break with a decent second at Kempton over todays’ trip last month.
Thomas Blossom (WIN)