PADDOCKS PATENT (MONDAY)

16:20 Windsor An eleven runner handicap over 1m 2f in which the unexposed Wadigor looks set to go off as favourite. The once-raced, Roger Varian colt, won his maiden in fine style and could be set for a good future at a level higher than this Class 4 affair. However, at current odds I fancy the chances of a more battle hardened sort in the form of The Salmon Man. Brendan Powell’s 4yo gelding has looked to be crying out for a step up in trip in his ten career starts to date. Campaigned exclusively at distances between 7-8.5f, The Salmon Man has finished a number of his races off strongly after not quite going the early pace. Back in June the gelding showed he handled the track at Windsor well, placing third in another class 4 handicap, closing in on the front pair in the final furlong. He is now back to the same rating as he was on that day and looks decent each way value at odds of 14/1. The Salmon Man (E/W)

16:40 Pontefract A 2m 2f stayers conditions stakes to decipher here and for me there is one horse who stands out head and shoulders over the rest. Marcus Tregoning’s 4yo gelding, Burmese, is officially rated a full 7 pounds clear of the field but carries the same or less weight than all but Madam Lilibet here. He drops down significantly in class after running with a good deal of credit in group races during his last five starts. Perhaps his best run this season was a close up 5th in the group 3 Sagaro stakes at Ascot. That form is comfortably the best on offer here. This class 3 event seems the perfect place to finish the season on a high before returning next season for another crack at pattern company. Current odds of 6/5 are not going to make anyone rich quick but fairly represent this classy sort’s chances here. Burmese (WIN)

17:20 Windsor Rather like the contest discussed above, this amateur handicap provides race conditions that look to present an excellent opportunity for my selection. Knight Commander is officially joint top rated at 65 but due to the conditions of the race, finds himself very handily weighted versus the field here. Although now a fourteen race maiden, this 3yo gelding from the yard of William Knight is competing in his lowest grade to date and looks sure to be competitive. Encouragingly, the closest Knight Commander came to breaking his duck came here over the same distance on ground the slower side of good. That was in a class 5 event back in June when he went down by a neck. Odds of 7/1 look reasonable and an e/w play is advised. Knight Commander (E/W)