Thirteen picks across five meetings today, and the shape of the day is unusual. The afternoon is fairly quiet, then everything cranks up once Brighton, Tramore and Wolverhampton get going in the evening. If you like a longshot you are well served, with eight of the thirteen going off at bigger than 4/1.
The afternoon belongs to Uttoxeter and Pontefract. Uttoxeter is where we are swinging, Hudson at 15s in the 2.00 and Stumps Or Slips at 10s an hour later, both each way and both the sort of prices that only need to land occasionally. Pontefract is the steadier half of the afternoon. Cloudy Rose and Welbury both carry two points in back-to-back races, and Dream Deal at 2.88 rounds off a card we are treating with proper respect.
Then the evening. Super Hit in the 7.50 at Brighton sets the standard and drops in grade to defend his penalty after winning last time. His earlier runs carried more promise than the placings show, and James Owen has a fine record at the track. Over at Tramore, Guy’s Girl in the 7.30 has been building to this. Her latest third was the fastest she has gone on the clock, her mark keeps easing, and stall 2 is exactly where you want to be over the mile and a half there. Her stablemate on our card, so to speak, is Kashel Spring in the 6.30, back from a break at 11s on a friendlier mark after a season that brought two wins. Denis Hogan’s team thrive at Tramore and Alan Casey takes off a useful 7lb.
Wolverhampton closes the night out. On Key in the 8.10 keeps finding one too good, but those placed efforts have real substance, with subsequent winners among the horses beating him. His times have improved with every start and stall 5 gives him first run. If you want one at a silly price, Last Flight at 21s in the 8.40 has slid to a mark of 52, his latest fifth suggested the drop is working, and only five rivals stand in his way.
Yesterday was one to forget. Five picks, nothing returned, and no dressing it up beyond that. Blank days happen, and the answer is the same as it always is, back to the card and find the next winner. With five meetings and thirteen chances, today gives us plenty of road to do exactly that.