Cheek Pieces

Wednesday 20th April

In the late race at Salisbury on Wednesday, Mr Tambourine Man was bitterly disappointing, as a staying handicap hurdler I expected him to make it a thorough stamina test, so I was surprised that connections opted for waiting tactics, which did not work. Time might tell that Pipe’s gelding is just not good enough for the flat.

Thursday 21st April

No bet advised

Friday 22nd April

It’s a tricky race that starts the Sandown card with ten three-year-old sprinters, seven of which are making their seasonal debuts with any amount of improvement for development over the winter. Kimngrace (1:20) looks like she might be under-rated as the form of her Haydock maiden win has worked out well, the runner-up having earned ‘black-type’ since the defeat. Probably worth an each-way play, if you can bet with any of the firms going four places, but a bit of a trappy race to advise as a bet to 3 places.

In the last at Doncaster (5:05), I’m going to take on the favourite and top-weight, War Horse. There are several rivals in the field with middle-distance pedigrees that have yet to race beyond a mile. One of those is Wootton'Sun, who showed a good level of form in novice races from 6f-1m in his three two-year-old starts last year before he was beaten 3¼ lengths in a decent York nursery at the back end of last year when he ruined his chance by pulling too hard in good-to-soft ground. He should be able to leave a mark of [74] behind him stepping up in trip for his three-year-old campaign. But several other have a similar profile, particularly Victory and Dark Mystery. There is currently an each-way angle, but with only right declared I suggest win only with halved stake:

Doncaster 5:05 - WOOTTON’SUN – ½ point win @ 15/2 (Bet365; 7/1 others)

Early advised bet for Saturday’s Bet365 Gold Cup:

Sandown 3:32 – STREETS OF DOYEN – ½ point each-way @ 16/1 (4 places Bet Victor; others 14’s)