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12:40 Sandown Starting off todays action away from Channel 4 Racing and I opt for a horse in a small runner juvenile hurdle. There’s only five that go to post but it looks pretty competitive none the less. The Alan King yard are hitting a bit of a purple patch at the moment and Pain Au Chocolat is a very worth favourite after winning last time out. That said however it wasn’t the best of races it won and I find the O’Neill horse more interesting. The Saint James makes its UK debut after being sold for 320,000 euros so clearly is highly thought of. It had some noticable runs in France and is sure to like todays soft conditions. With AP in the saddle it has every chance of making its first foray onto UK soil a winning one. The Saint James (WIN)
13:35 Wetherby Another small field awaits us as we head up to Wetherby where, for all I could try and be kind about all four entrants, it is definitely a two horse race. The two horses in question are the Donald McCain trained Jonny Eager and Richard Lee’s Kylemore Lough. Jonny Eager comes from a yard and connections that are bang in form with the owners having five winners from their last seven runners, four of which were with todays trainer. The horse has won over the distance on soft ground and has renowned jockey Jason Maguire in the saddle. Obviously the favourite has course form and has won it’s last three races but it didn’t beat anything special and I’m struggling to see why it merits being an odds on price. The trainer has had a great season but hasn’t had a winner in the last two weeks so you wonder if the yards good form has taken a small slump. It’s undoubted that Kylemore Lough has the form but at around 7/2 I have to go with the McCain runner here. Jonny Eager (WIN)
15:30 Lingfield To end our selections we take in a bit of flat action today and head over to Lingfield for their penultimate race of the day. Although the five year old Noble Gift has every chance with a course and distance win to its name and a win last time out I just cannot see past the Appleby and Kirby combination. Gold Trail made a marked improvement when winning last time out and it shouldn’t be put off by a step up to one and a half miles. Godolphin are doing well both in the UK and over in Meydan and I would consider it quite a shock if the four year old doesn’t finish with its head in front today. Gold Trail (WIN)
by Rory Paddock