Just a flying visit today dear readers as I have a 11.30am tee time booked for 18 holes of bad swinging, bad putting , bad scoring and bad language!

It’s my brother’s birthday today (Happy Birthday Gary!) and what better way to celebrate than a round of golf. There’s bound to be a little (or not so little) wager on the game as we can’t do anything without money being involved. Monopoly, Scrabble, Cards, Scalextrix, Tiddlywinks…..it’s all much more fun with a side bet.

Any enough of that, let’s putt that aside and take a look at York today. There are three tough handicaps sandwedging the class races today and it’s these I’ll be taking a look at. The first handicap is the 5f sprint at 1.45…

I’ve been following Indian Trail over it’s last few runs and he’s had a bit of a rough time of it of late with regard to the draw. He also ran twice at Goodwood in two days and though he ran well the first time to finish 4th he was a fairway behind on his second run. I think we can forgive him that run as it may have been a bit soon for him and at around 16/1 he is the one for me.

The 4.05 is a Nursery handicap and is about as tough a race as you could find, well at least since the last York Nursery anyway. I used to love these races and have the form study down to a tee but I’ve struggled of late. I’m trying to get back into the swing of things and iron out my form problems and today’s choice will be Jack My Boy. He ran very green on his debut but has improved nicely with each run since and has won 3 of his last 5 races. Both of those last defeats came when he was raised into pattern company but his below par run last time can be put down to him not staying the 7f. This return to 6f should help and a slice of the 20/1 each way will do me.

As we reach the 3rd and final race I’m beginning to flag so I’ll be quick. The 4.40 sees the re-appearance of Laterly who ran so well for me at 50/1 last time out. He’s on my list of horses to follow and I’m sure he’ll be winning soon but this trip looks a little on the short side for me and I’ll be hoping he doesn’t win today and make me look a fool. The one I’m going for is Henry Cecil’s Jack Dawkins who has struggled of late but really needs firm ground to be seen at his best. The course, distance and going are set up nicely for him and it will be a major surprise to me if he doesn’t at least make the frame.

And finally, one small plug for my Festival Trends Guide.

The York Guide covers 10 races and is available from this link(s) here……YORK EBOR MEETING

Good luck,

Gavin.