Hello Friend

13/06/15

3.30 Sandown Rocket Rob

Ideal Cond. 5f or 5.5f; OR 80 or below; C4<£6k or below

Form in Cond. 5,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,2,7,1,3 (1/39, 11 places outside this)

Positives. He has his conditions and is well handicapped on old form. All race conditions are fine. 4/9, 8 places CD

Negatives. He comes here after 101 days off the track. His record post 60 days in handicaps is 1/8, 1 place however that win was for a different trainer. He is currently 0/19, 4 places in 17/2-20/1 price range. The draw is a negative here however he is a hold up horse who needs luck in running anyway.

My Verdict. 1 point win 12/1 (general) A tricky one, I suspect many of you may be put off by some of those negatives and fitness has to be a concern. But on the whole he runs well in these conditions and he returns after a break to his favourite track which is interesting. The market suggest it may not be his day but we shall see. If he drifts further I will probably know my fate.

** Powerful Wind also runs in this race, but he is currently 0/6,1 place with more than 11 runners. However there are 12 runners here so a withdrawal would make him a selection. He likes to lead and dominate (hence success in smaller fields I believe) and is drawn out wide, which at Sandown is not usually the place to be. It is not impossible that he could win with more runners in a race but so far he has been best with 11 or fewer in the race. If there was a non-runner he would be a qualifier and my verdict would be 1 point win. He won last time out under conditions, pre launch.**

4.25 Bath Pick A Little

Ideal Cond. 1-11 runners, April/May/June

Form in Cond. 1,1,1,9,2,3,3,  1,1,5 (0/27, 1 place outside this)

Positives. He has his conditions again and on old form is still well handicapped. It is likely that the ground went against him last time given the form he was in before that race. He does like to lead and push the pace and it looks likely that he should be able to do so here.

Negatives. Slight niggle on the going, as he is 0/3, 0 places on Firm, but is 3/8, 4 places on Good to Firm so this is not conclusive.

My Verdict. 1 point win 6/1. He has his conditions and everything looks set for him to continue his decent form before he ran on soft last time.

5.30 York Meandmyshadow

Ideal Cond. 6f, Good to Firm, 1-15 Days

Form in Cond. 1,1,4,1,2,2,1,8,1,6,5,3,1, 2, 9 (2/49, 11 places outside)

Positives. Hasher conditions again. General race conditions fine.

Negatives. She is 0/4 1 place at York and has a new jockey on board. I am not sure if that is significant but Dale Swift usually rides (6/24). She is also 0/39, 6 places, when above 8/1. He best recent form has been at C5 level, and while she has won at C4 in the past that maybe where she is best now. The close second this season where she was just caught at 10/1 in April was at C5 level, the 9 being in C4.

My Verdict. No Bet. It will be recorded at a 1 point win bet in results as she does have her conditions and could pop up again in C4 in future. However, her place in the market, and those stats, suggest that today is not going to be the day. 0/39 above 8/1 is so compelling I am tempted to leave her. She is currently 33/1.  

Non Qualifiers.

• Miss Macnamara (2.25 Muss)

• Economic Crisis, Imperial Legend, Rothesay Chancer (2.50 Muss)

• Confessional (3.25 Muss)

• Ballesteros (3.40 Chest)

• Hernando Torres (4.20 York)

• Verus Delicia (5.00 Bath)

• Ambitious Icarus, Baron Run (5.30 York)

• If I Were A Boy (6.25 Ling)

• Kalk Bay, Piceno (6.35 Chest)