The pick of the Saturday prices....

Friday, 24th May 2024

The pick of the Saturday prices….

Before we get started on the weekend races….

… I’ve got a Special Research Report for you….

It’s Epsom next week – the Derby, the Oaks, the Dash, and a clutch of supporting handicaps to get our teeth into….

I’ve been busy with other matters in the column this week (see the archive)

…. and I haven’t managed to find room for material that will help you work towards an informed opinion – and selections – in next week’s biggest races….

Specifically, I’m talking….

…. how to use the Dosage Index to narrow down the Derby field….

…. key stats that reveal what a Derby winner looks like before the race….

…. a data-based approach for longshot bets in the Derby & the Oaks….

…. PLUS an angle that will give you an edge in Saturday’s big-field Dash….

But I’ve put all that material together in PDF form….

…. in a report called: Angles, Pointers & Clues – Epsom’s Derby Meeting 2024….

…. so that you can review all the relevant data at your leisure over the holiday weekend….

Download your copy here….

Moving on now to the weekend action….

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The 5f handicap sprints are never easy puzzles to solve….

…. and the William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap at York (2.45) is tricky….

…. but – at the prices – I’ve come down on the side of Tim Easterby’s MANILA SCOUSE who can be backed at the general 11s this morning….

I can draw a line through his last couple of goes – where he’s met and been beaten by horses that reoppose tomorrow….

…. on account of ground conditions that were against him….

The rain has come this week at York and conditions should be somewhere close to ideal for him tomorrow….

… similar to when he finished 3/19 over course and distance last September off a mark of 85….

Vintage Clarets won that day giving the Easterby horse 6lbs….

…. tomorrow that same horse must concede 15lbs with Manila Scouse running off 82….

That’s very much a mark he can make a bold bid from….

…. being just a pound above the rating he produced two winning efforts from (both career-bests) last August….

The ground is the key factor – it’s come right for him – and he’s drawn well in stall 5….

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It’s not an easy weekend all round – with the two most valuable handicaps restricted to 3yos….

…. including the Silver Bowl over the mile at Haydock (1.15)….

With not much form in the book….

…. and plenty of candidates open to mounds of improvement going forward….

…. these types of betting assignments are as much about speculation as form-reading….

…. and I can’t pretend that they’re my favourite type of contest….

That said I do like the claims of SIR LES PATTERSON on handicap debut at the general 12s….

This will be his first go on turf – and that might set the alarm bells ringing for some punters….

…. but there’s nothing in his pedigree that suggests turf is out of the question….

His sire won good races on turf – and he’s produced more from the breeding sheds….

…. and I’m happy to let the colt take his chance off a mark of 88 which he’ll surely improve on in time….

He’s done nothing but improve for trainer Harry Eustace on the AW….

…. and whilst his form is relatively modest I thought he did it well at Kempton last time on seasonal debut….

… travelling into it nicely, looking like he was racing within himself, always doing enough, and winning with more up his sleeve to my eye….

The race time wasn’t bad either and I think he’s a bit of a dark horse at the prices tomorrow with Oisin Murphy booked for the ride….

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BLUE PRINCE at the general 10s & 9s is the pick in the William Hill Harroways Handicap at Goodwood (1.30)….

…. the other big 3yo handicap tomorrow afternoon….

The first-time hood appeared to work for him last week at York….

…. where he caught the eye making up loads of ground late on after being too far back early-on – given the way the race panned out….

He was stepping back up to the 7f trip that afternoon – for the first time in a while….

…. and he looked very much like the whole set-up enabled him to regain some of his sparkle after two sub-par efforts on turf at Newmarket and Ascot over the 6f trip….

The extra yardage really appeared to suit….

…. he was the only horse making up ground in the closing stages….

…. and had he been ridden a bit closer to what was a brisk early pace….

…. it’s possible he would have been very much on the premises at the line….

Tom Marquand takes the ride tomorrow….

…. he rides Goodwood well and I’m mindful that David Evans had him in the saddle for Blue Prince’s first proper stab at decent money last term….

The pair represent a fair bet at the prices….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd