Saturday 21st May

Dreadful start to Saturday with two outsiders that I was confident of at least placing, both ran absolute shockers The Menstone Gem (unplaced) backed from 28/1 into 7/1 drifted back out to 18/1 just before the off so clearly something amiss at the track and beaten after two furlongs; then Dirtyoldtown (unplaced 14/1) also weak in the market and beaten at halfway; fortunately we didn’t have any worries with Mashhoor (WON 7/1 advised 9/1) who travelled like a dream and won easily.

Sunday 22nd May

After thinking I was smarter than everyone else with two outsiders on Saturday, and ending up with egg on my face, I’m a bit apprehensive about picking a big-priced one for Sunday, especially as it is with the Grant Tuer/Sam James partnership responsible for Dirtyoldtown on Saturday. However, I can’t help thinking that Showtime Mahomes is too big at York (4:35). The gelding was a useful two-year-old including a decent run in the Super Sprint. He showed that he has trained on with an excellent third in a better race than this at the Dante meeting. He races off the same mark here and while he’s not proven at six-furlongs, his running style suggests it will suit:

York 4:35 - SHOWTIME MAHOMES - ½ point each-way @ 20/1 - 6 places (Bet365; 18/1 others)

The 0-55 handicap at Nottingham (2:00) doesn’t immediate stand out on a day with classic action at the Curragh, but it could be a betting proposition with the lightly-raced Fast Danseuse. Joseph Tuite’s filly was moderate as a juvenile but has shown improvement in her second season, albeit at a lowly level. The daughter of Fast Company recorded her best effort since her debut when fifth in a similar race at Windsor, noted travelling nicely until the pace quickened and she had to switch to get a run. She was beaten 3 ¼ lengths but the winner followed up in a better grade next time out. Fast Danseuse is clearly of limited ability, but in a race where more than a quarter of the field are out of the handicap, this won’t take much winning:

Nottingham 2:00 – FAST DANSEUSE – 1 point win @ 3/1 (Bet365; 9/4 others)

Highlight on the card at the East Midlands track is the 0-110 handicap over the extended mile (2:30). Most of the contenders appear to be at their limit regarding their current marks, but Dark Shift finished last season with two wins and may still be improving. He ran better than his finishing position suggests in the Victoria Cup earlier this month as he was trapped widest from his low draw when there appeared to be a track or pace bias stands side. Dark Shift faded late on finishing eleventh but only beaten 6¼ lengths, slightly outpaced over the seven furlongs and a step back up to a mile should suit. Austrian Theory hasn’t won since racecourse debut but drops into handicap company on a mark of [97] having been campaigned in pattern races until now:

Nottingham 2:30 – DARK SHIFT – 1 point win @ 11/4 (generally)

The original favourite, Gangway, looks vulnerable back on turf having won twice on the AW but having been beaten in a CD 0-65 in between the two wins. Shivraj is interesting stepping up to ten furlongs having been beaten a nose over an extended mile at Hamilton as the gelding has plenty of stamina on the dam’s side of his pedigree (dam an Irish Oaks winner). Sid’s Annie is a big danger if able to transfer AW form on turf debut. Australian Harbour, who only raced twice as a juvenile, looked like threatening in a novice stakes over the extended mile here last time out but was left behind inside the final 2f. He is interesting stepping up in distance on handicap debut:

Nottingham 3:05 – SHIVRAJ – 1 point win @ 6/1 (generally)

Lednikov (4:10) got off the mark at the tenth attempt when stepped up to today’s trip at Musselburgh last time out. That may have only been a 0-60 event, but he showed a likeable attitude to get up by a neck. He has only gone up 1lb for the win and that looks lenient given that the placed horses have both won since:

Nottingham 4:10 – LEDNIKOV – 1 point win @ 3/1 (generally)