Race 1 – The Palace of Holyrod house handicap – 5 furlongs
#3 Golden Dragon 10-1 has some very good juvenile form. Probably a bit over-priced considering what he’s done. Same goes for #8 Classy Moon 15-1, who’s having his first run since being gelded.
Race 2 – The G3 Albany 6 furlongs
Wide-open looking contest
#6 Golden Melody 7-1 May be worth a punt considering the softened ground, cruised in on good to soft at Haydock
#9 Mother Earth 6-1 got to be respected, purely because of connections. However, might be worth siding with #11 Undertake 7-1 , the outsider of Varian’s pair. Won really nicely on debut, and has the breeding and profile to improve off that run.
Race 3 The G2 Norfolk 5 furlongs
#4 Eye of Heaven 2-1 looked very smart indeed winning on debut (beating unlucky Windsor Castle 4th that day, Get It), and so, main pick. Michael Bell knows what to do with a speedy 2-year-old, and #13 The Lir Je t7-1 is fancied to fill a place.
#6 Golden Pal 7-1 wickedly fast son of Uncle Mo out of multiple stakes winner Lady Shipman – she acted well on “USA” style good ground and perhaps this could be the one to run them off their feet.
Race 4 – The G2 Hardwick Stakes – 1 1/2 around the bend
#11 Fanny Logan 10-1 had a nice tightener at Haydock and with Frankie up will give her an EW chance.
#7 Elarqam 3-1 about time he stepped up to this kind of trip – reckon it’ll play to all his strengths and more, Crowley with 6 wins to his name the week already helps. A really interesting one is #8 Hamish: obviously the trainer thinks enough of him to throw him in at the deep end like this on his seasonal debut. If the ground softens much, might just play to #9 Morando’s 10-1 benefit.
Race 5 The Commonwealth Cup – 6 furlongs
#6 Pierre Lapin 3-1 looks the one who could be something special. #17 Shadn 20-1 is an EW chance, Balding live at the meet and should love the ground. I’m also gonna give #5 Mum’s Tipple12-1 one more try. Looked like a freak winning a valuable sales race at York last August. Disappointing both times since, though there have been excuses.
Race 6 The Queens Vase – 1 mile on the round course
The form points squarely at #2 Berkshire Rocco 5-2 and #1 Al Dabaran 3-1, slight preference for the latter. But don’t sleep on #8 Santiago !
Race 7 The Duke of Edinburgh – 1 1/2 around the bend
#9 Durston 7-1 is just the sort Simcock does really well with – nicely weighted, too, off his form. #21 Hereby is an obvious one if she sneaks in at the bottom of the handicap. At a very big price is #7 Getchagetchagetcha 20-1, tough and exposed, but seems to run well fresh.
