Racing Chat - Monday May 15th

[BillyHills]

3.15 Brighton

One Big Surprise  2/1 Bet365

Trainer Richard Hughes does well here at Brighton and its interesting he has booked the experienced Fran Berry to partner this one tomorrow. They also team up with one later at Windsor. 

The 5yo won over 6f last time out here and now goes up a furlong, he has some fair form at this trip and should be able to defy the 4lb rise in the weights.

[robertob]

3.25 Wetherby: Class 4 Handicap, 7 furlongs

Dutch Artist ran a big race in defeat on his seasonal return at Catterick last month. He didn't enjoy the run of the race and wasn't ideally positioned, which makes all the difference at this track. So his 3rd place is probably better than the bare form.

Only one win to his name so far, but he remains still low mileage for a five year old and ran a handful of stormers last season, suggesting his turn could come soon. He's dropped another pound in the mark, which sees him racing of a career lowest mark off 76 now.

Conditions tomorrow should work be fine though the draw is wider than ideal. However with a early pace that he possesses, he should plenty of options.

Selection:
10pts win - Dutch Artist @ 11/2 William Hill

......

5.50 Windsor: Class 4 Handicap, 1m 2f

Top connections, top entries, to form: Crowned Eagle should be way too good for the opposition in this race. Of course fitness has to be trusted and there is always a question mark whether these young horses have wintered well.

However, I waited for the return of this lad for a while and would have expected him to be odds-on in a race like this, so I'm happy to to take the risk.

Crowned Eagle was third behind Barney Roy on debut - strong form, given that we do know how smart this Barney Roy turned out to be. He got off the mark at the third time of asking at Kempton. A nice piece of form too: the runner-up won subsequently and was thought good enough for a spin around Meydan, is now a 90 rated individual.

With further progression assumed for experience, age and the step up in trip, the current mark of 85 looks potentially well below what Crowned Eagle is capable of. Only slight concern is the fast ground.

Selection:
10pts win - Crowned Eagle @ 2/1 Skybet