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20:40 Lingfield The closing race at Lingfield this evening is a mile and a half, 3yr old handicap. With Royal Ascot approaching, this looks a good opportunity for her majesty’s Calculation to gain his first career success. Bred in the purple, by Dubawi out of the Ascot gold cup winning mare Estimate, he looks destined to improve for a test of stamina. An outing at Windsor in April should have blown away any cobwebs, and after that run he’s been given a mark of 69 which looks lenient. He made his 2 yr old debut against Too Darn Hot, and despite being colty and green ran well against that subsequent G1 performer. Gelded over the winter, which should help focus his mind, and with trainer Sir Michael Stoute a genius at improving horses slowly. Calculation is a confident selection to lose his maiden status. Of the opposition, Tammooz is equally unexposed and like the selection had a spin round Windsor, running a respectable race. He looks the main danger. Slade King is a consistent performer who could run into a place, along with Mon Frere. Sir Mark Prescotts horses usually improve from two to three and it would be no surprise to see him run well. CALCULATION (WIN)
16:30 Bangor-on-Dee We head up to North Wales to take in the final race from the River Dee where the young and promising conditional jockeys get an opportunity to show off their talent in a handicap hurdle. Some of the jockeys on show here and surely destined for bigger and better things with many of them already impressing this year. Although not quite reaches the heights of his father Donald McCain still demands a tonne of respect with his horses and course and distance winner The Character is no exception. The eight year old gelding wasn’t a bad performer on the flat but showed he’s capable enough over obstacles. He ran far more respectably last time out and a return to a course where he holds a 50% strike rate is a positive. Now 16lbs less on his back than when he last tasted success he looks to give a good account of himself especially with the promising Lorcan Murtagh, who takes another 3lbs off the horse, booked to ride. The Olly Murphy trained Compatriot deserves a tonne of respect after a pleasing return to action. He’s bound to improve for the recent run and dropping down to Class 5 company should make this an easier test. Although it wouldn’t be a complete sporting shock to see another horse win I just can’t see past Compatriot or The Character taking the spoils although my preference is for the latter to prevail. THE CHARACTER (WIN)
The Cambridge News – PicksfromthePaddock.co.uk:
20:40 Lingfield – CALCULATION (WIN)
The Jersey Evening Post – Rory Paddock:
16:30 Bangor-on-Dee – THE CHARACTER (WIN)
East Anglian Daily Times – Dean Kilbryde:
15:30 Bangor-on-Dee – STEEL WAVE (WIN)
Norwich Evening News – Chris Connolly:
20:00 Tipperary – EL TREN (WIN)
Ipswich Star – Matt Polley:
18:20 Newcastle – ROSIN BOX (WIN)