Flat Racing Tuesday 27th May

[chris34]

2.40 Lingfield Ask The Guru has frustrated me most winter and now looks like one to avoid despite dropping a couple lb’s in handicap. Pucon made a pleasing return to action last time out behind Clock Opera around here over 6f, just as effective over this trip if not better. Up 2lb for that latest effort and has something to turn around form with Oh So Classy from last run last year. Royal Acquisition is another that ran a good race last time out to finish 2^nd over this CD, up 3lb for that effort and career best required but with a yard that does well with sprinters. Desert Strike has been in the form of his life recently, but up another 4lb for latest win but never won off a mark this high although useful apprentice takes over taking off handy 5lb. Wide draw also unhelpful over this trip. Secret Missile looks weighted to his best at present and career best effort required. This looks between the 2 top weights. Oh So Sassy comes from the Chris Wall who’s string is going a little better currently but she didn’t go well fresh last year and is up 6lb for her last win over this CD. She scored very narrowly but that race has worked out well with the 2^nd winning next time out on season debut at Bath off a 5lb higher mark so isn’t perhaps handicapped out of things. Drawn 8 also not helpful. Marmalady looks the safest option she has the benefit of a couple of runs already this season and she has run well both starts especially last time out over 6f in strong race at Ascot in soft ground, struggled to quite get home better chance dropped back to this trip and returned to AW. She has had 3 runs on polytrack and won 2 and 2^nd on other start. Still looks unexposed and could have far more to come on this surface. Also well drawn in stall 4 and one of the best jockeys around here in Kirby in saddle. 2pt win Marmalady 3/1 hills 4.10 Lingfield Interesting handicap with several regulars on the AW and a couple of interesting runners. Salvado won a decent Dundalk maiden on penultimate start but never landed a blow on handicap after that, could be anything on UK debut but probably best watched after a layoff. Dishy Guru returns to the same CD of his last 2 wins, scoring easily here in April up 8lb for that effort and struggled to land a blow on turf and return to AW has to spark a revival, wide draw also not helpful. Trending has proved better on turf but can land a blow on the AW, but looking high enough in the handicap at present. Clearing hasn’t been seen for nearly a year and is probably best watched. Johnny Splash has been seen since finishing second behind runaway winner Dishy Guru, up a 1lb for that effort and a career best effort required off this mark. Reginauld Claude looks 2^nd strong for the Usher yard, he isn’t the easiest to win with and usually worth taking on these days. West Leake is another very similar to Reginauld finds winning hard these day but often runs a good race. Often travels strongly and need things to fall right. Black Truffle is probably worth a second chance return to polytrack. Has been mainly campaigned over 7f and further travelling all too keen at times. Dropped back to 6f on penultimate start at Kempton he scored with more ease than the winnign margin suggested just getting up, up 5lb for that now but does have place form of similar marks and could also have more to offer racing over 6f. Well drawn in stall 5 with David Probert taking over from apprentice. 2pt win Black Truffle 7/1 bet365 3.20 Redcar Bling King looks well handicapped, didn’t get home last time out but prior to that had shown promise around here over a mile, this trip again a slight concern if they go hard and with soft ground. Woody Bay is 1 from 1 over around here over a mile, well backed last time out but showed nothing and has to be watched after that effort. Kindlelight Storm has won 4 on the bounce on the AW this spring but not seen for couple of months and now needs to show he can translate that to turn off a further 4lb higher mark. Hussar Ballad has returned this season in good form winning at Newcastle on fast ground over a 1f further, before backing that up again on fast ground over same trip on good ground at Haydock last time out after a 3lb rise. Runs off the same mark but these ground conditions are an unknown and also just 4 days after last run. St Moritz might be worth risking at 10/1 in first time visor. Only managed one win last year at beginning of season before struggling in big fields. Joined a shrewd yard this season and shown nothing on 2 starts so far but better can be expected with visor on and dangerously well handicapped now 32lb below last handicap win and will relish soft conditions. 1pt e/w St Moritz 10/1 bet365

[Blazing Bailey]

Re: Flat Racing Tuesday 27th May

2.40 Lingfield Ask The Guru has frustrated me most winter and now looks like one to avoid despite dropping a couple lb’s in handicap. Pucon made a pleasing return to action last time out behind Clock Opera around here over 6f, just as effective over this trip if not better. Up 2lb for that latest effort and has something to turn around form with Oh So Classy from last run last year. Royal Acquisition is another that ran a good race last time out to finish 2^nd over this CD, up 3lb for that effort and career best required but with a yard that does well with sprinters. Desert Strike has been in the form of his life recently, but up another 4lb for latest win but never won off a mark this high although useful apprentice takes over taking off handy 5lb. Wide draw also unhelpful over this trip. Secret Missile looks weighted to his best at present and career best effort required. This looks between the 2 top weights. Oh So Sassy comes from the Chris Wall who’s string is going a little better currently but she didn’t go well fresh last year and is up 6lb for her last win over this CD. She scored very narrowly but that race has worked out well with the 2^nd winning next time out on season debut at Bath off a 5lb higher mark so isn’t perhaps handicapped out of things. Drawn 8 also not helpful. Marmalady looks the safest option she has the benefit of a couple of runs already this season and she has run well both starts especially last time out over 6f in strong race at Ascot in soft ground, struggled to quite get home better chance dropped back to this trip and returned to AW. She has had 3 runs on polytrack and won 2 and 2^nd on other start. Still looks unexposed and could have far more to come on this surface. Also well drawn in stall 4 and one of the best jockeys around here in Kirby in saddle. 2pt win Marmalady 3/1 hills

I had a look at this race and its a cracker considering the level and overall card. I gave up to around 6 a chance but my main 3 where Oh So Sassy (84+), Secret Missile (83) and Marmalady (80+). Oh So Sassy is back from a break and they must have a turf campaign planned because Im sure she would have been aimed at the AW Champs otherwise and therefore she might not be fully up to speed so I have left her him out and based on the prices I have sided with Secret Missile (14/1 BV). A lot of these like to front run so that will complicate matters but Secret Missile can stalk and his only 3 runs on this surface have resulted in 1 win (5f - TS of 80) and 2 places (6f). I get the feeling he is best over 5f with a quick pace to aim at and as long as the draw doesnt become too much of a hindrance (stall 9), I think he could be overpriced. Whatever happens, it looks like it should be a good race to watch!