Saturday 19th April 2014

A 25/1 winner yesterday, with Alben Star getting up late to land the big sprint at Lingfield, and it was a satisfying victory for us. April has been a good month so far.

Two selections for this afternoon.

1pt each-way double on today's selections, 16/1 and 12/1 generally guaranteed. - E/W place double

3.30 Kempton Santefisio 1pt each-way AND 2pts win @ 18/1 (Bet 365, Coral, guaranteed, 16/1 generally guaranteed) - E/W 3rd @ 20/1

There are fitness questions to be answers for some of the principals here and some of the unexposed horses don't look guaranteed to improve this season. In short I think this could be won by something with proven form, and Santefisio is selected at a big price. The selection goes really well over this course and distance and with Life And Times and Tiger's Tale likely to go forward, there could be enough pace on for the selection's strong travelling style and turn of foot to be suited. He didn't shine in Meydan but ran ok at Wolverhampton last time out, one place ahead of Alben Star, in a race where those held up faced a lot of kickback and ultimately had no chance of winning. The return to his favourite course and distance (bar perhaps Ascot over 7f / 1m on the turf) could see him pop up at a price and he will have no issues over his fitness where others might struggle in the closing stages.

4.35 Kempton Zampa Manos 1pt each-way AND 2pts win @ 12/1 (Generally guaranteed) - WON @ 22/1

This race has been priced up based on potential rather than recent form and it doesn't always work out in favour of potential. Championship is a tempter here but he is stepping up two furlongs in trip and has never raced on the surface, although he could improve markedly for it being by a sire, Exceed and Excel, whose progeny go well here. I'm just not quite sure about him, nor am I sure anything of Ed Dunlop's should be so short in a hot little race like this given the yard haven't hit stride.

A chance is taken on Zampa Manos improving for his seasonal debut. He gave Passing Glance a real race over this course and distance last time out and was ultra game in the finish, when he may not have been suited by racing on the inside. That horse was the only one to give Ertijaal a race over seven furlongs yesterday and the form looks quite strong. There is every chance that Oisin Murphy's mount will get things his own way up front again and, up against rivals who are making seasonal debut in a few cases, they may struggle to peg him back. 12/1 is too big and we'll include our selections in an each-way double.

Profit & loss: day: +103.50 / month: +191.25 / year: +130.00