Feature Race - Wetherby 3.30 Handicap - Class 5 - 1 mile - 16 run - Soft

 

A competitive race where really 7 of the 16 are of most interest. I'm going to TRACK both Time Tells All and Astral Spirit forwards from today, both may need the run but Time Tells All could turn out to be "thrown in" on some early Irish form for Dermot Weld off a UK mark just above 70, I only hope he doesn't blow his cover today in a competitive race. Meanwhile ;Astral Spirit had a promising 3 year old season last year for the under-rated Pam Sly and I feel may just need this run today too in such a race.

 

The other two to note at different ends of the betting market are Harswell Duke, well below the mark he was last year at this time but showing signs of a return to form and a win saver is at your discretion but not one to have as a formal tip at the price and it wouldn't be a massive surprise to see Soames Forsyte outrun it's odds as its AW fit and one specific bit of interesting Turf form on soft.

 

My top 3 though in terms of race analysis and betting value are DREAM PIRATE who really ticks all of the right boxes bar one, which I'll come to in a minute. The same applies to EY UP ITS THE BOSS who was my second rated and also STAR SHIELD who is a Course and Distance winner who is 4lbs below that winning mark and who has already had a prep run on heavy ground. My only minor niggle is that they are drawn 12, 13 and 14 so will need to find a position so as not forced too wide in to the turn and then need to find the gaps in the closing stages, but I couldn't find too much drawn lower to worry them (North)

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Bath 2.20 - A Class 5 Sprint Handicap over the intermediate 5 and 1/2 furlongs with 13 running on Soft Ground.

 

A draw issue here too but I feel a high draw in these conditions is not a negative as they often come Stands side and cut off the corner, it's deceptively tough up the closing hill here and proven form at the trip or further is an advantage.

 

Joy Choi has won fresh and that is noted but in past few seasons has needed a run, Some Nightmare, Silent Flame; Sarah's Verse and Maharajas Express are all perfectly capable of winning this and feared whilst the market leader Ace Wild makes its turf debut.

 

On balance of the analysis and market and underfoot conditions though I'm most confident that LEVEL UP who is race fit, has won on soft turf and who is below its last winning mark by some margin and APACHE STAR a Course and Distance winner who could be well drawn as noted above and who is AW fit and suited by conditions are both well worth a small investment. (TA)

 

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Bath 3.20 - A Class 5 Handicap 0ver 1 mile 3 and a half furlongs - 13 run - Soft

 

At the top end of the market Squeezebox may clearly need the run but is a danger to them all, Whispering Royal takes a drop in trip that may help but has very little soft ground form or experience, Sailing On is perhaps a bigger danger and was third rated, so notional reserve if we have a non runner in the selections from an in form yard and only the lack of a run put it in 3rd place in the final totting up. I'll TRACK that one and Cherryhawk who should also come on for the run forwards.

 

My clear top rated though are ENOCHDHU and EAGLE COURT. ENOCHDHU has winning form at this sort of trip at Windsor and the last was on soft ground off a very similar mark and EAGLE COURT may be in poor form on the AW but will bring race fitness back to the Turf where it has win and place form off marks between 70 and 75 on soft turf and runs off an eye catching mark here of 69 with an added 5 lbs Claim. I'll be very disappointed if this one isn't bang in contention.  (TA)

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Wetherby 4.40 a competitive Sprint at the intermediate distance between 5 and 6 furlongs and while most have a genuine chance the eye-catcher of the day is DANDY SPIRIT a Course and Distance winner of this race last year who was blinkered that day and the blinkers go back on today and a really strong run therefore anticipated (North)