PADDOCKS PATENT (THURSDAY) In Association With The Value Rater

14:30 Brighton Miss Inga Sock has now dropped back to her last winning mark and her only career win came over this course and distance under similar conditions last June. With Eve Johnson Houghton in fantastic form, it would be foolish to dismiss her chances now that she heads this handicap in a race where most of her rivals are also struggling for form. Jim Crowley comes in for the ride on the four year old and the duo ought to go well in this company. Indus Valley returned to the winners enclosure for the first time since last year when winning over the minimum trip here last time out. Having won this very race a year ago todays conditions should not prove too much of an obstacle. He actually gets in off a two pound lower mark than last seasons success and with Silvestre De Sousa taking the reins, the pair look the likeliest of dangers. The Lillster shed her maiden when winning over five furlongs at Catterick a few weeks ago. She has shown no liking for this extra distance in the past and she may struggle to repeat the feat today. Miss Inga Sock bids to enhance her perfect strike rate at this track and the chestnut filly ought to go well from her low draw in stall two. Six furlongs wasn’t really her bag at Lingfield last time and this extra furlong should be more to her taste. A bold effort is expected. Miss Inga Sock  (WIN)

15:20 Haydock Bop It looks dangerously well treated on the best of his old form as he returns to his favourite track. The three time course winner is as versatile as they come and he looked to be well on the way back into some form having been beaten only a head at York a couple of weeks ago.  Danny Tudhope has won on him in the past and it wouldn’t be the biggest of surprises if they were to get their heads in front once again here. He looks to have solid claims of retaining this prize despite being only two pounds higher in the weights. Whozthecat is a proverbial speedball who will ensure that there is plenty of pace on upfront. His fourth placed effort at Thirsk just last week was much more like it and he is clearly in rude health if Declan Carroll is sending him out again so quickly. Jason Hart gets on well with the nine year old and they ought to make their presence known. By Rights heads the weights and will enjoy any rain if it were to fall. He is a bit of a five furlong specialist though and is readily passed over on this occasion. David O’Meara continues to enjoy a fine season and his seven year old can go close to bettering it this afternoon. Bop It was rated eight pounds higher in the past so is still well treated theoretically. A first career win of the season looks imminent at some point and it may well prove to be today. Bop It (WIN)

16:30 Brighton Palace Moon may be eleven years old but he showed he retained plenty of ability when winning a six furlong handicap on the polytrack at Lingfield back in March. He has won seven times in sixty racecourse appearances ranging at trips from six furlongs to a mile. Michael Attwater has turned out three winners from his last four runners so the yard are clearly in fine shape. Having won off marks far higher in his heyday, this son of Fantastic Light looks to be fantastically well treated on the best of his old form and the booking of Edward Greatrex certainly catches the eye. Altaira ran well over this course and distance two starts ago when finishing third to Frank Bridge. A run on soft ground two days ago saw him beaten only just over a length. Provided this outing doesn’t come too soon, Megan Nicholls is likely to get a decent tune out of this lightly raced five year old and they look the biggest dangers. Lutine Charlie is a dual course and distance winner at this track but is unproven in softish going. Shane Kelly takes over in the saddle and they may have to make do with a place only this time around. Palace Moon recorded one of his biggest career wins on good to soft ground at Newbury previously, so conditions today should be fine. With most of his rivals struggling for form he could well prove to be decent value here especially given the current form of the yard. Palace Moon (E/W if 9/2+)