I didn’t have too bad a day on Wednesday and only finished a little behind yesterday so funds are still intact for what looks like a bumper days punting. I’ll give you a full rundown of my recent betting activities on Monday and you can expect these horses to feature…

1.30 Newmarket.

A tricky handicap to start off with where I could give a chance to quite a few of them. That doesn’t though include the favourite Highland Knight whose rating of 87 looks a little high considering what he’s actually acheived so far. He’ll probably go and skate in now but if he does, he won’t be carrying any of my money. The way Dance East finished his race off last time makes me wonder whether he’ll be able to stay a mile in this company and I think a better bet is the topweight Sea Lord. As I said on Wednesday (just before Fireback won) the form of the Britannia this year looks worth following and Sea Lord finished 8th in that race. He has since come out and won a big handicap at the Curragh and with Amy Ryan claiming a useful 5lb I reckon his winning spree can continue. The consistent Finest Reserve can chase him home.

Selection: Sea Lord Danger Finest Reserve

2.00 Newmarket

I’m not sure whether Ecliptic would have won his race at Sandown if Frankie hadn’t been dumped on the floor by the second favourite but they were both 8 lengths clear of anything else at the time and it didn’t look too bad a race. It is however a big step up in class here so I’ll be siding with the runner that won a Group 2 last time out from the O’Brien horse Samuel Morse. That’s tip top form and if Formosina is able to shoulder the 3lb Group penalty he’ll take all the beating.

Selection: Formosina Danger: Ecliptic

2.35 Newmarket

Having had Gene Autrey (3rd), Break Heart (2nd) and Arquelin (3rd) in the big field handicaps this week I’m hoping it’s third time lucky for my Bunbury Cup selection. My choice, the trends pick and Gary’s hopes will all be resting on the same horse in the race and that’s usually a lethal combination. If Matt were to pick him as well then he would be a 5 star nap. Our big hope is Noble Citizen who ran 4th in the Victoria Cup and 6th in the Hunt Cup where he faded in the last 150yds. Off bottom weight the 18/1 looks big for a horse drawn well and with the assistance of William Buick can make the frame at the very least. 3yo’s don’t have a great record in the Bunbury Cup (although they don’t have that many runners) but the way Freeforaday ran last time out in the Jersey Stakes he could change all that. The step up in trip seemed to bring about massive improvement and 20/1 is value. Everymanforhimself can run well in these big field handicaps if the mood takes him and odds of 33/1 may be worth a small each way interest if anyone is looking for a big priced outsider

Selection: Noble Citizen Danger: Freeforaday

3.10 Newmarket

The July Cup looks a virtual re-run of the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot with the rest of the field made up of Kings Stand runners from the Tuesday of the meeting. I’m sure Equiano will make life difficult for Starspangledbanner up front and they’ll be taking no prisoners in what’s going to be a very fast run race. Blink and you’ll miss this! It may pay to find a horse able to sit off the pace and challenge late on which is exactly what I expect Society Rock to do. 3yo’s have a good record in the race and he doesn’t have a lot to find with the favourite so at 14/1 he’s my idea of a value each way bet. Given his much improved form this year I’d like to think Equiano could finish in the frame too.

Selection: Society Rock Danger: Equiano

3.45 Newmarket

A 2yo race for fillies isn’t my cup of tea at all. Mick Channon usually unveils a decent filly in July so I’ll be watching Layla Jamil and also Hannon’s horse Our Way Only given his 2yo form this week. Suroors Ragsah looks the one they all have to beat though.

Selection: Layla Jamil (e/w) Danger: Ragsah

4.20 Newmarket

I used to love these 2yo Nursery’s but I’ve not been having a lot of luck in them recently. With all the top 10 runners in the handicap having won 1 of their last two races it probably won’t be changing here as this looks really tough. Breathless Storm looks a real monkey but he obviously has ability to match his wayward tendancies as his 5th to Royal Ascot winner Zaidan confirms. The one that I really like the look of though is Barry Hills’s Rerouted who began his career by running Elzaam to 3 lengths in a Class 3 maiden at York.

Selection: Rerouted Danger: Breathless Storm

I’ll try again with the Placepot. I’m still gutted it went down on the last leg on Wednesday….

1-10 / 1-2 / 11-15-17-20 / 2-11-14 / 6-9-10 / 2-6

As always, do what you like with them: Back them, lay them or ignore them!

Good luck,
Gavin.