Saturday 6th July 2013

A fantastic day's racing and three interests for us.

1.55 Beverley Crakehall Lad 2pts each-way and 1pt win @ 7/1 (Boylesports, guaranteed, 13/2 generally guaranteed)

It was interesting to see a son of Manduro, a sire not noted for two year old winners, with an entry as early as the end of May over six furlongs and well supported. It was no surprise to see Crakehall Lad outpaced, but he stayed on takingly towards the finish in what was admittedly a modest maiden. The step up to an extended seven furlongs this afternoon, with a stiff Beverley finish, looks a positive and can be expected to bring about further improvement. Robert Winston rides this track really well and takes the ride, and this race looks just as modest as the one the selection ran in at Hamilton first time out. I would expect he can get in the first three at the very least given normal improvement and he looks overpriced.

3:50 Coral-Eclipse (British Champions Series) (Group 1) Cl1 1m2f7y

Selection: Mars 4pts win @ 11/2 (Bet 365, VC Bet, Coral, William Hill, guaranteed)

A cracking renewal in my view, and although there is no standout proposition it makes for a great puzzle to solve and a potentially exciting contest. I'm not over keen on last year's three year olds and although the five year old Al Kazeem looks rock solid, he is taken on with the three year old Mars. Much was expected of Mars this season, but his coming of age performance came last time out for me when he broke through the RPR120+ barrier required to get competitive in a Group 1. The booking of Ryan Moore, who has been in brilliant form this season, is a major positive given his 20% strike rate at the track over the past five seasons and I think if he has the right horse at Sandown, he usually wins. Mars' running on performance behind Dawn Approach and Toronado was huge to my mind, and it looks the strongest form on offer here with the potential for improvement upped to ten furlongs. He looks too big at 11/2.

4.05 Haydock Party Ruler 5pts win @ 11/2 (VC Bet, Ladbrokes, Brucebetting.com, Betbyrne.com, Independents, guaranteed)

Tom Dascombe targets this meeting and his Party Ruler is taken to come out on top in the Nursery. The selection ran really well last time out at Chester in a maiden that has worked out very well, and his form looks a notch or two above that achieved by many of his rivals today. a caveat would be that I hope Richard Kingscote doesn't ride him too aggressively, there is a minor stamina doubt about the seven furlongs at the back of my mind and I hope he is allowed to creep into the contest rather than try to make all, 11/2 looks too big.

Profit & loss: day: -14.00 / month: -20.36 / year: +99.85