12th October 2012

Another unlucky venture saw yesterday's runner Yaa Wayl come up just short again in third. From the wide draw De Sousa did the right thing and came over early. He chose to go for the lead and try to win from there. Perhaps the early exertions were too much to see the race out, but at a 10/1 SP hopefully some of you had it each way for a tidy profit. That result is pretty typical of what we've had recently, just missing out on winners, and hopefully that Friday feeling will take over and we will have a more successful day. There's some great racing tomorrow with action at York, Dundalk and Chantilly catching the eye. Here are the best picks.

14.00 York

Secretinthepark does seem to look well treated off a mark of 78 but I just can't see him racing. The ground is good-soft currently with rain falling as this is written, and with more expected throughout the night I can see another withdrawal likely. They seem very careful on where to race him next and can't imagine they'll race today with soft conditions likely. As a result I've been drawn to a couple of proven performers on more testing turf including Bachotheque, Chasing Dreams and BOND CLUB. The former beat Rio's Pearl last time out who has since recorded a 5th in Listed company. However that was off a 1 pound higher mark, and tomorrow's likely favourite has to cope with a 6 pound rise. He is respected seeking a hattrick, and is preferred to Chasing Dreams, but I like Bond Club at big odds for an each way bet. He gets to race off the same mark as a 14 days ago when winning over soft ground at Haydock when battling well to beat Red Cobra who has won since. Red Cobra was very fresh that day but Bond Club ran well and at tomorrow's double figure odds he appeals for a place. 14/1

14.30 York

There's some disappointing horses in this race, in the sense they haven't performed this season as I'm sure connections would have liked. Again with the likely soft conditions, several look set to disappoint further. I originally liked the look of Prince Siegfried on his third last time out behind Grandeur, but his record is poor over soft, and that is something that applies also to Modun. Beaten Up hasn't raced on anything as soft as expected, and considering his victories over good-firm, I'm not sure it's what he will want. Ultimately the race for me comes down to Mijhaar and EXPENSE CLAIM. The former has been disappointing and unlucky at times this year, but his best performances have come on soft going including an excellent third to Gatewood conceding 4 pounds. He didn't look right in the Cambridgeshire 13 days ago, so for his trainer to turn him out again must mean he thinks he is better now. However with that niggling doubt hanging over his head, preference if for the Hills horse. We know he can run well fresh, beating Shantaram back in April after a long time off, and on only his fourth start he is entitled to progress. He was outpaced when going down by a short head to Mickdaam, and with that in mind I'm sure he won't give the opposition as much room this time and he is taken to land this. 7/2

19.30 Dundalk

Racing on the other side of the Irish Sea throws up this interesting Listed proposition. It's unusual but daunting that Jim Bolger throws HUDSON'S BAY into this on his debut, and he isn't the type to do that without reason. It's especially interesting as he is a stablemate to juvenile superstar Dawn Approach who has accounted for Lines Of Battle. The O'Brien runner finished a very respectable 6th in the Coventry Stakes before going down to Grafelli last time, another Bolger runner. On form, the O'Brien runner is the one to beat with that Coventry Stakes result working out tremendously, and he is preferred to No Jet Lag and the other runners in this; but at current prices, and the peculiarity of his entry, along with the fact Bolger has trained the two horses that have beaten Lines Of Battle, he is definitely worth an each way bet. 10/1

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer