PADDOCKS PATENT (THURSDAY)

14:35 Ripon

This is a race that the David O’Meara yard look to target every year now and this term is no different as they come here triple handed today. The jockey bookings would suggest, however that the stable’s main hope once again lies with their dependable five-year-old Intisaab, who landed the race last year, and looks poised to give a bold run to defend the crown here. The horse is only 3lb higher here for last year’s triumph and like last year, has had a preparation run so will have no fitness excuses. The preferred soft ground will aid the cause further here and Daniel Tudhope looks again to be on the right one here so it gets the confident nod at an attractive each way price today.

Kevin Ryan’s Piazon is another who will relish the soft surface and could be a danger to the selection if putting his best foot forward here. He did have bits of decent form last term including over course and distance in the Great St Wilfred’s consolation race from a poor draw, but his form is much less reliable and he in fact hasn’t won since 2014 so may not be fully wound up.

The main danger is more likely to come from the Tim Easterby yard in the shape of Fast Shot. The eight-year-old is now in the veteran stage of its career and boasts a victory in this race back in 2012, but has has now slipped down to an interesting mark. Now 17lbs lower than the start of last term and a horse who acts on soft, this may just be a going day, but it would have to be to trouble the selection.

Intisaab (E/W)

15:20 Newmarket

This valuable Tattersalls Millions 3YO race is always fiercely competitive and today looks to be no different with a number of juggernaut yards going head to head.

The Aiden O’Brien yard look to have high hopes with their promising colt Landofhopeandglory who comes here after four decent runs in his two-year-old campaign. He won on debut at Galway before three runner-up efforts that included one over course and distance in a slightly higher grade than this. There is no doubt that Ryan Moore’s mount sets the clear standard on those efforts, but I just think he may be vulnerable to an unexposed one with more potential.

Two horses that fit the bill are both owned by Godolphin, but come from different stables. The John Gosden & William Buick combination is one that has proven extremely fruitful at this track in the past few years and they come here with a live chance once again with Linguistic. The yard has already been among the winners on a number of occasions already at this meeting and the horse boasts two decent runner-up runs as a two-year-old including won here over the 1-mile trip the only concern for him is that he has yet to get his head in front and may do better once he can enter handicap contests to break his duck following this race.

The one that looks full of the most potential, however, has to be the Saeed bin Suroor runner Brave Hero. The yard have an excellent record with this type of horse and like many before used the All Weather surface at Lingfield for its debut run. That proved to be an impressive victory that day with a four and ½ length success in a maiden and while there is no doubt he will have to have come on for that run, the manner of the victory suggests he is one to keep on the right side of. The Lingfield victory broke the 1-mile course record that day and the way he powered clear that day proves he will relish the step up to today’s trip so he could take all the beating today. Entries for both the Dante and the Epsom Derby shows that the stable clearly hold him in high regard and so he gets the nod here.

Brave Hero (WIN)

17:40 Newmarket

The boys in blue of Godolphin may just be in for an exciting day at Newmarket and they could round it off with another winner in the finale from Yattwee.

The three-year-old made a winning start to his career in December on the fibresand at Southwell where he scored in impressive fashion over 7 furlongs that day. The drop to 6f for the turf debut should hold no fears in the ground as proof of stamina can only be a plus today. James Doyle’s mount looks to have potential in abundance and the manner of his victory means he must go close here today especially at such an attractive each way price so he gets the nod.

In a race of this type with so many unexposed horses there are dangers a plenty. One such type is Ryan Moore’s mount Aclaim for the M Meade stable. Like the selection, the horse won well on debut at Kempton and the third in that race has came out and won subsequently. Today’s race is a much tougher race, but the jockey booked is a head turner so he could give the selection plenty to think about.

Another who could run a big race at a price is the Charlie Hills runner Sahreej. He is a dual 5f winner with speed in abundance and the yard won this race last year so have clearly targeted it again. The horse however, is yet to conclusively prove his stamina that he will need at this sort of trip and he is a little more exposed than the previous two.

Yattwee (E/W)