Monday 20th August - SP2A | Speculate 2 Accumulate

Tipster	Course	Time	Horse	Stake	Notes
Place	Thirsk	5.05	1 Mon Beau Visage @ 10/1	½ e/w	Sky 1-5
Advisor	Thirsk	3.05	3 Queen Penn @ 14/1 (WH/PP/BV)	½ e/w
Mention	Thirsk	4.05	6 Kings Coinage @14/1 / 3 Clenymistra @ 7/1	¼ e/w	All 1-4
Mention	Leic	3.20	7 Firmdecisions @ 9/1 (B365/BV)	¼ e/w
Mention	BOD	8.10	9 Handy Hollow @ 6/1	¼ e/w	All 1-4
Mention	BOD	6.10	6 Sky Of Stars @ 20/1	¼ e/w

At THIRSK in the 4.05, I narrowed a field of 17 down to a shortlist of 5, of those Palindrome has to prove stamina and Aelius may also be stretching itself beyond its comfort zone at the trip, both are real dangers. The Course form of Princess Nearco; CLENYMISTRA and KINGS COINAGE is compelling and all are on very competitive marks. I just preferred the 2 selections over Princess Nearco on the handicap marks and form with a bit of cut and will be disappointed if the 2 selections are not bang in contention to win and place at least. If you want a 3 horse Tricast Perm, its laid out for you, and if you want a few added lines I would have Aelius and Palindrome in that order.

At LEICESTER in the 3.20 FIRMDECISIONS returns to scene of most recent win, back to an almost identical handicap mark and is another who will welcome the sting being taken out of the Going by recent rain, and that win on 4th June off a mark of 77 on Good Going, sets it up nicely for a repeat here today and some early 9/1 is excellent vale with 8/1 generally.

At BANGOR this evening; the 8.10 offers "odds to 4th place" and the consistency of the McCain trained HANDY HOLLOW looks each way banker material, if it runs up to normal form, on a Track the Yard tend to do very well at. SKY OF STARS in the 6.10 is more speculative. The Trainer has suffered from a lack of quantity of horses for the past 2 years, but look back and he is capable of Training a good horse. The booking of Dave Crosse adds to the view that the odds are very decent and if you look at Handicap Hurdle form, the horse is actually very well in. Crosse is very adept on Novice Chasers. A recent staying on 3rd, having had a good blow, should see him spot on here, and whilst there is absolutely NO information about any kind of plot, or otherwise, I just felt it too interesting to ignore.