I'm surprised to see the consistent and reliable CALLING THE WIND priced up at 6/1 in a small but select field at Sandown today. Richard Hughes' stayer has proven himself to be a classy performer and he almost always turns up. He looked the winner at Royal Ascot last time out only to get hustled out of it late on by a couple of similarly classy types. His opponents today haven't proven themselves to be as good as those horses yet and I'm not sure all of them will be ready for this test whereas the selection should be ready to roll providing his Ascot exertions haven't taken too much out of him.
Sandown 2.20 – Calling The Wind
Saturday
It's a fiercely competitive day on Saturday all over the country and I'm trying to hunt a bit of value at Haydock. In the Old Newton Cup I like RAYMOND TUSK and RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE. Both are tasty prices and I do fancy both to run well. The former is a proper handicapper who tends to run a good race in these competitive handicaps especially when there is cut underfoot. The rain has arrived just in time and with that in mind I think he has the form in the book to run a big race. The latter is a horse who I think will be suited to the return of a big field handicap. I'm sure Ian Jardine is disappointed that he hasn't won yet this season as he has missed a few penalty kicks but I do think he will run a career best here. His form in big field handicaps last year is first class and a return to that type of race combined with the drop in trip should see him return to his best.
The 4.25 is a proper Ben Morgan handicap and I have backed most of these so I'm bound to get my fingers burnt but I can't resist two of these. It's hard to ignore YOUNG FIRE who ran so well last time out on his return on ground plenty firm enough for him. The return to soft ground over a course and distance which his record stands at 3/3 makes him a must back proposition at 11/2.
I've been backing WOVEN all season so I may as well follow him over the cliff. He's going to go in in one of these races where they go too fast up front. Whether 7f on soft ground stretches him I don't know but he will be played late for sure and I hope he can reward my loyalty.
Haydock 3.15 – Raymond Tusk / Ravenscraig Castle
Haydock 4.25 – Young Fire / Woven
