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14:50 Chelmsford We kick off todays trio of selections with a race on the all-weather at Chelmsford. The second race on the card is a five furlong handicap where we’re currently met with short priced favourite Rocking Rudolph. Champion Jockey gets onboard the market leader as the Robert Cowell trained three year old returns to the all-weather where it holds a 100% strike rate. The youngest horse in the race clearly has plenty of scope for improvement but a lot is taken on trust as to wether or not the horses two year old form can continue this season after a 348 day lay off. Trainer Derek Shaw enters two runners into this and both Top Boy and Dynamo Walt have course and distance successes. Based on jockey bookings it seems that Top Boy is the favoured runner from the yard however I’m siding with the younger runner Dynamo Walt. The horse hasn’t been seen in a class 4 handicap since winning a course and distance race in May 2015. Now residing on a handicap mark of 75 when its previous success here at Chelmsford was when the horse was rated 87. Promising apprentice jockey Noel Garbutt takes another three pounds off the horses back and with a decent success rate at this venue the horse looks to be primed for this race. Dynamo Walt (E/W)
15:30 Leicester We head off up to The Midlands to take in our second selection where I’m siding with a trainer in-form. William Haggas has his horses flying at the moment with a 30% strike rate with his horses over the past fortnight. He sends His Kyllachy into this race after a decent maiden winning success at Carlisle. Compared to his rivals today the horse is very lightly raced and looks a likely improver and looks the one to be on. The biggest competition looks set to be Paling from Roger Charlton’s yard who finished a decent second behind Goodwood Mirage last time out but I feel it’s likely to find one in front again and is open to the likely improver. Of the rest, Cape Banjo represents decent connections but struggles to get its head in front. His Kyllachy (WIN)
16:35 Curragh The last selection of the day sees us head over to The Curragh for a seven furlong handicap. The penultimate race at the Curragh looks very open with three of the runners catching my eye when analysing the race. Chestnut Fire, Rattling Jewel and Club Wexford all look to have good each way chances when looking through their individual form. Club Wexford returns to a course and distance combination that’s seen the five year old gelding finish second and third in just two starts. The slight negative however is that the horse hasn’t won since it’s maiden victory and a place looks the best it can hope for. Rattling Jewel has won at the course before and with Wayne Lordan in the saddle you have to respect the horses chances. Despite winning over seven furlongs previously that was on the all-weather and its efforts over todays trip on the turf are a little to be desired. If todays race was over six furlongs the horses chances would seem much better but it may be able to last out today to ensure it remains in the mix come the closing stages. The horse I’m therefore going for is Mark Halford’s four year old Chestnut Fire. A runner that seems to relish the seven furlong trip and put in a decent performance to finish sixth of sixteen last time out. A slight ease in the weights should aid its chances and with firmer ground to race on another advantage it definitely seems like an each-way bet worth taking. Chestnut Fire (E/W)