Sorry for the lack of posts this week but it’s all been a bit hectic at work this week as Cardiff unveiled its new £675 million shopping centre on Thursday. With the huge local, and not so local, interest in the project and extended opening hours I’ve hardly been anywhere near my laptop for the last few days. I have to say that it’s one of the nicest shopping centres I’ve ever seen and judging by the number of people in Cardiff over the last two days there’s not much of a recession going on here in South Wales.

Which means I can report that Calendar sales are going well and I’ve got some money to have a punt with today…

Aintree has a great looking card and one horse that I will be backing in the 2.15 is Howard Johnson’s Tidal Bay. By his standards, last season’s performances were a little disappointing but the trainer reports him back in top form and with the stable absolutely flying he can take advantage of what looks an attractive handicap mark.

Newbury has a typically tough end of season card and I should know better than get involved (especially in a fillies race) but the 9/2 about Henry Cecil’s Jaqueline Quest is just enough to tempt me into a wager. She beat a poor field at Chester to win her maiden but the way she went about her business was breathtaking and though this is a huge step up in class she looks ready to do herself justice.

Last but definitely not least, on the flat over at Doncaster there’s a horse I really fancied last time out but, like quite a few horses before her, she didn’t seem to handle Epsom and slipped after travelling about a furlong. She managed to get back into contention before hanging across the track and then got squeezed up. She finished last of 6 but was only beaten 3 and a bit lengths. What it does mean is that we have a great price about a horse that can be excused her last run. She’s well thought of in this shrewd yard and off near bottom weight must go well on a more suitable course.
……It’s a tough contest but take the 25’s each way on Dylanesque in the 2.15 and pay for your weekend!

Good luck,
Gavin.