Thursday 26th May

Just two advised bets for Thursday: out of luck with Lituus (3^rd 7/2) at Carlisle, who was dropped out the back early on and not asked for an effort until it was all over, he ran on well but too late and didn’t even manage to catch the 80/1 second, although the winner looked in a different league; and Two Tempting still to run at Sandown (8:35) - he’s been easy to back since the going change to good-soft but has encountered easier conditions yet so fingers crossed.

Friday 27th May

In the ten-furlong handicap at Chepstow (3:40) Way Of Life is contesting the 0-80 event on a six-timer, having won the first of five races on a mark of [53] in a 0-55 at Wolverhampton in November. That remarkable run has seen his mark rise to [78] but he might not have finished winning yet. Way Of Life has gone up 7lbs for a win at Newbury last time out, that might seem harsh for a neck victory in a class 4, but the pair pulled five lengths clear of the third, Time Interval, who won at Windsor on Monday. Jonny Portman’s gelding requires another career best effort, but he keeps pulling more out of the hat and may improve again. Unfortunately, the tissue price of 9/4 didn’t stand up and I already thought that was too short, so no bet.

The best betting race at Haydock in the evening looks like the last, a ten-furlong three-year-old handicap (8:55). Ten declared and mainly unexposed types. Ardbraccan is one of the most exposed having had eight starts already, but she has looked one-paced over seven furlongs and a mile and the step up in trip could be what she needs. The Lawman filly had some useful form as a two-year-old including a decent run off [85] in a nursery at Glorious Goodwood and she might be underrated here:

Haydock 8:55 – ARDBRACCAN – ½ point win @ 16/1 (Bet365; 12/1 generally)

In the last race of a long day, Pontefract has a sprint handicap (9:00) and I’m keen on Ventura Express. Paul Midgley’s gelding is hardly prolific with only two wins from nineteen starts, but that improves to two from five at Pontefract and the only time out of the frame was on soft ground. Ventura Express is on a mark 5lbs higher than his last win but is 3lbs lower than his best performance when runner-up in the Great St Wilfrid consolation race at Ripon last August. Everything is primed for a big run provided he gets fast ground.