Flat Racing; Sunday 12th June

[Lars]

16:00 Doncaster First time blinkers can make a difference with Brian Meehan’s Signor Verdi, and after dropping another 2lbs in the ratings since he was last seen, that could make all the difference. The 4yo colt doesn’t come in the greatest of form but showed a fair bit more last time than he had in his two previous outings during 2011. That was in a Sandown handicap which was a fair bit more competitive than this and although he ended up 10^th, he only finished 3.5 lengths behind the winner and had no real luck in-running. Caught a little wide, he was hampered when making his challenge and from then on plodded on one-paced. Even so, it was a much better showing than his previous two efforts. In one he started slowly and wasn’t persevered with (was well-backed that day) and the other in the Spring Cup at Newbury, which was probably too competitive. Signor Verdi is now rated 82, and that’s only 2lbs higher than when a clear cut winner at Thirsk over a mile in 2010. He beat Cheers For Thea (who has gone on to be a bit better than my selection) very convincingly by two lengths, so there’s definitely ability there. Apart from when winning, he’s run well off a mark of 86, again in a much better race than this one today, so he does seem to be quite well-handicapped. Regarding the application of first time blinkers, they should do him the world of good. He does seem to wander about a bit, one of the reasons why he ended up getting hampered last time, and he doesn’t look the most straightforward I feel. Blinkers should be of benefit, and although I hardly expect him to blast off in front with them applied like some horses, it should help him to concentrate. At a price of 7/1, it’s worth a bet as I really think he’ll be in the first three today. There are a few dangers in this race, but they’re mostly like Signor Verdi and come here in poor form. Not a race to get too carried away in, but definitely worthy of an EW bet. Signor Verdi; 1.5pts EW @ 7/1 Bet365 (bog)

[Lars]

Re: Flat Racing; Sunday 11th June 14:30 Salisbury Keeping this one brief, but Sohraab should have a good chance to get into the winners enclosure once again after a fantastic effort in the Epsom Dash. He had taken a little bit of time to come to hand in 2011 with his first two efforts this year being a bit below par, shaping that he’d come on for them both. He showed a lot more on his penultimate start over 6f at Newbury, where he didn’t get much luck in-running but stuck on fairly well. I do feel that 6f really isn’t his trip at all and that perhaps showed by his fantastic run in the Epsom Dash. Half a furlong out Sohraab looked beaten but came with a very strong run in the closing stages when switched wide. He had to cope with a wide draw that day too so it was a remarkable effort I thought. He’s able to race off the same official mark today than when running at Epsom but his jockey took off 5lbs that day. Even so, a 5lb hike in the ratings wouldn’t have been a huge overreaction anyway. The ground at Salisbury is likely to change to something on the softer side of good due to heavy rain forecast. If so, it may inconvenience many of these. Sohraab has never won on softer ground which is a concern I suppose but he has placed three times from four starts when the ground has been softer than good. His sire has a 17% strike rate on ground that is heavy (compared to 7% on other ground generally) so he’s obviously a horse that can produce animals who like cut. Hughie Morrison has a very competent record at Salisbury with his older horses of 8/37. Sohraab hasn’t raced here before but has form at similar tracks of this nature (undulating). He’s won at Sandown and placed at Beverley, Leicester etc, some of them off much higher marks than he races off today. On that front, he’s still quite well-handicapped being 1lb lower than his last victory that came over 5f at Sandown in 2010, and looking back to his 3yo days, he was running fine races when rated in the 100’s. He’s an animal with a fair amount of ability, who should be able to run a fine race today, especially with Ryan Moore in the saddle. That may be one reason for the overnight move due to his York exploits, but the fact is that he looks very well in after his last performance, the track should suit and the ground if it changes won’t be a problem and his trainer has a fine record out here are more probable reasons. Softer ground eliminates the draw bias at Salisbury (only a slight one here) which would further enhance his chances. 4/1 looks a mighty fine price and should be long gone by post time. Sohraab; 4pts Win @ 4/1 Boylesports (bog)