October 26th

A busy bank holiday Monday for us with some decent action in the U.K. and Ireland.

Bet of the day is Jonny Mudball in the 3.20 at Lingfield. A strapping son of Oasis Dream, this fella made a good debut at Windsor three weeks ago behind three horses with experience. He broke well, travelled well pulling hard without cover, and tacked across on his own to the far rail, fading a furlong out and running on again towards the finish having been tapped just once with the whip. I thought it was a really nice debut and I reckon seven furlongs is well with his reach on pedigree - Oasis Dream is getting more than just sprinters - while the Cadeaux Genereaux influence is no bad thing for artificial surfaces. This looks a weak enough race and I reckon 9/2 is big.

A more speculative selection is William Haggas' Dhan Dhana in the 3.20 at Kempton. The exchanges are suggesting she is not off a yard / has no ability / is around 80 times less likely to win here than the favourite, but I reckon that is codswallop. She is a beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi, who made a nice debut at Lingfield and was not pushed around at all by Kirsty Milczarek. She travelled well but was perhaps unlucky in not finding any gaps opening for her, and she may have been a bit green too. She was never hit with the whip and although she never remotely threatened, she looks a good sort physically and she has an entry in a £350,000 contest next April. She is drawn in stall 12 today which is a big positive, and if she is made more use of by Tony Culhane, she could run into a place at least.

Galatian looks the call in the Leicester maiden (2.30). He travelled really well at Newbury in a decent maiden before fading late on, and he looks as if he is progressing with each run. He is physically very impressive and will make a decent 3yo. A small each-way interest looks the call.

Best Recommendation:

2.30 Leicester Galatian, 2pts each-way @ 11/1 (Sporting Bet)

3.10 Kempton Dhan Dhana, 1pt each-way @ 50/1 (Stan James - guaranteed)

3.20 Lingfield Jonny Mudball, 5pts win @ 9/2 (Ladbrokes - guaranteed) won