September 2016

In the 3.45 at Ascot on Friday, Platitude returned to form with a convincing 5-length win over Vive Ma Fille in the March Stakes at Goodwood in August on his first attempt over 1 mile 6 furlongs and appears to have been found another excellent opportunity. The Dansili gelding has run well on both previous visits to the Berkshire course and seems versatile, ground-wise, so has plenty going for him.

In the 4.55 at Ascot, Noble Silk is on a long losing run, but was far from disgraced in his two previous efforts over course and distance, in 0-100 company, and has dropped to his lowest handicap mark for three seasons. The Sir Percy gelding probably doesn’t want too much rain, but the faster they go the better for him and a return to the winners’ enclosure under the up-and-coming Josephine Gordon wouldn’t be a complete surprise.

Selections: Ascot 3.45 Platitude, Ascot 4.55 Noble Silk, 1-point Win Double

It’s fair to say that our last few doubles have been truly ‘deadly’, in completely the wrong sense of the word as far as we’re concerned, so we’ve decided to put up a few extra selections this week, in the hope of a large return for a small outlay.

In the 2.35 at Newmarket, Haulani steps up in class off a 9lb higher mark, but fully deserves to do so after readily outpointing subsequent winner Quothquan at Salisbury last month. Course, going and distance are all fine and Paul Hanagan taking over from William Twiston-Davies in the saddle can hardly be considered a negative.

In the 3.40 at Newmarket, Escobar is 2-2 over 7 furlongs and while he may not quite fall into the ‘could be anything’ category, he certainly appears to be a smart recruit, who could be worth following. He only had to be pushed out to win the Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury on just his second start and the third and fourth from that race both won next time, so the form looks decent enough.

In the 4.15 at Newmarket, William Hunter has cocked a snook at the handicapper more than once already this season and the manner of his victory at Sandown earlier this month suggested he may be able to do so again. He steps up in class off a 5lb higher mark, but never looked like being beaten at Sandown and can make it four wins from his last five starts.

Last, but not least, we’re relying on Saeed bin Suroor’s progressive 3-year-old Great Order to bring home the bacon in the 5.20 at Newmarket. The Distorted Humour colt makes his handicap debut on a realistic mark after staying on well to win a conditions race at Ascot earlier this month and remains open to any amount of improvement after just four career starts.

Selections: Newmarket 2.35 Haulani, Newmarket 3.40 Escobar, Newmarket 4.15 William Hunter, Newmarket 5.20 Great Order (6 x 0.5-point Win Doubles, 4 x 0.5-point Win Trebles, 1 x 0.5-point Win Accumulator)

Good luck!

In the 1.30 at Ayr on Thursday, Double Touch won convincingly on his first attempt over 7 furlongs at Chester last month and his racing style suggests that he’ll be even better over a mile. His earlier maiden form, over 6 furlongs, has worked out well enough, but he appeals as the type to improve with experience as he learns to relax in his races and he’s bred to be a miler.

In the 3.40 at Ayr, Falcon’s Fire is in the form of his life at present and, with soft going holding no terrors for him, can defy a 6lb penalty for winning over 1 mile 4½ furlongs at Musselburgh last week. He ran the proverbial ‘stinker’ at Carlisle three starts ago, but has clearly benefited for a break and returned to action an altogether different horse. He looks like one to follow until beaten in his current mood.

Selections: Ayr 1.30 Double Touch, Ayr 3.40 Falcon’s Fire, 1-point Win Double