Thursday’s Selections & Results (18 August)

Rule number one is never to select your horses that will carry your £££s while under the influence....rule number two (just been classified) is never to select your horses that will carry your £££s after 3 hours sleep!  Just the one winner yesterday and that was the system selection – which drifted nicely which for once was a plus and didn’t mean it’s leg had fallen off!!

I’ve had a shed load more sleep last night (try having an catnap at 5pm and waking at 4am, it does the trick and also means I'm getting old!)  so today I'm looking forward to better York results  - my (properly and alertly thought out) York selections did a whole lot better today - all placed or won (see bottom).......

For now the system selections are:

Selections are:

York

15:05     Pintura (9.8) 3^rd

Hamilton

16:05     Staff Sergeant (10) 4^th

Epsom

19:50     Downhill Skier (7) UP

Southwell

19:10     El Djebena (3.4) UP

19:40     Master Of Song (3) 3^rd

20:10     Suddenly Susan (3.75) UP

Not a great day for the system - 3 placed but no winners so -6.00

Jo’Burg is running today at Hamilton in the 16:05 Class 4 handicap.  He was a favourite of mine when trained by Lady Herries and it’s a little bit sad to see him here after contesting graded raced early in his career at Ascot, Goodwood and Newmarket. (I should point out that the system selection is Staff Sergeant - it's a good job or I might be tempted to put a emotional bet on....still might!)  Came trailing in 13^th!

Jo'Burg winning at Sandown May '10 with Ryan Moor steering

York 14:00 
DBS PREMIER YEARLING STAKES (CLASS 2) (2yo) Winner £136,868 CH4
Good To Soft 6f Number of runners: 20

There's no getting away from Crown Dependancy in this - the move back up to 6f should be ideal, the ground should be ok and the Hannon/Hughes combo in 2yo races is never to be sniffed at.  At 2/1 in a 20 runner 2yo field, the odds are a bit skinny though (anything could and often does happen in running).  I quite like Roger Sez as an each way alternative in case the pace is on the low side of the draw - she has a win under her belt in this class and form on the ground, distance and LH track.  She got in trouble LTO with Neil Callan but still managed to win. Reunited with David Allen who has ridden 2 of her 3 wins today.  Looks value at 14/1 and fingers crossed she doesn't get stuck behind a wall!  I'll be backing both.
Crown Dependancy  2/1 UP
Roger Sez  14/1UP

York 14:30 Fire Lily 6/1 The going looks softer than given here and Wachman's only entry of the festival.  Tabor, Smith, Magnier owned filly with proven stamina and win on Y/S 2^nd

York 15:05 Pintura 15/2 My system selection and looking more closely, I can see nothing else that I like better.  3^rd
York 15:40 Blue Bunting 11/4 Initially I liked Crystal Capella for this but I've changed my mind (Rule #3 - add to first paragraph!).  In this small field a higher draw should be an advantage so...1^st

York 16:15 Set To Music 8/1 Step up to a mile and a half shouldn't be any problem.  JP has ridden 3x and had 2 wins and a 3rd - the 3rd being first run of season so forgiven.  Strange that Hayley isn't up but I guess this is a pointer.   She won better than the formbook shows at Notts LTO and will prefer this ground.  Seems a big price & can't imagine an ew bet is too risky! 1^st

York 16:50 Deauville Flyer 5/1 Thankfully I got on this before PriceWise spoiled the party  price.  Much classier horse than the rest of the field and he loves it here with stamina/ground not a problem with Fallon to  get to work at the business end. 3^rd