Racing tips: A return to sprinting seems the right decision on Little Big Bear

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Gregory put in a smart performance at Goodwood when it looked like the track wasn't ideal for him. He looks like a really strong stayer and I'd imagine they'd be thinking of the St Leger for him towards the back end of the season. I'm not sure about his current price for that race, but if he's like 20/1, which I doubt he will be, I'd have a dabble.

Yorksea was given a strange ride. I missed the start of the race, so if he missed the break and that's why Hollie had him so far off the pace, then fair enough, but she looks indecisive when turning for home, one minute she wasn't throwing the kitchen sink and she looked happy with where she was, then she started to ask questions of him, and it was like that for a furlong or so. He finished 5th and never nearer, I still believe he is a well-handicapped horse, but yesterday wasn't for him.

Haydock 3:00 – Little Big Bear 6/4 (2pt Paddy)

If Little Big Bear returns to the heights of his 2yo season, then this race should be his for the taking. He is by far the best horse in the race, but it's the shadow looming over him from his run in the 2000 Guineas which might be swaying punters to back against him.

For me, I think he has always been a sprinter, even though his pedigree does suggest he would make a good miler. He has always had good pace and he stays his races out strongly over 6f, which is the perfect combination for a sprinter. A return to a faster surface will also help his chances.

Bradsell is deemed to be the main threat, and people will think he has a great chance, but I'm not so sure. He looked like the winner from his last race at Ascot on seasonal reappearance, but he clearly needed the run as his effort faded in the final furlong. Though he definitely needed that run, and you can say he'll be fitter for today's race, the form doesn't make me think he is as good as Little Big Bear. The runner-up that day last time out was a 125/1 shot rated 94, struggling to win in class 4 handicaps before that.

Curragh 2:30 – Garrus 11/8 (2pt B365)

In terms of ratings, this race is a decent Group 2, probably not a standard Group 2, but it's still a good level. I think Garrus is by far the most solid option.

Art Power is 2/2 in Ireland and has been gelded over the winter. He was far too free on seasonal reappearance, so the gelding operation might not have helped him out too much for that run, and they'll be expecting much more today, but his form isn't great. I think Garrus has the best form in this race by quite a margin, the form of his win at Newmarket looks strong now with the runner-up finishing 3rd in a very strong Group 2 race at York. Creative Force was back in 3rd at Newmarket, he went on to win the time after before breaking down in the York race and was a previous Group 1 winner. Garrus handles the ground perfectly fine and Charles Hills seems to think this track will suit him.

Moss Tucker is an interesting runner, but his form has come on soft ground, he ran well in a Listed race on quicker ground but was easily beaten that day.

York 5:00 – Yorkshire 2/1 (1pt B365)

I like the look of Yorkshire in this competitive handicap, running off bottom weight.

In races like this, you have your typical usual handicappers who have raced in races like this for many years and you know what you're going to get from them. I like to look for a different angle into these kinds of races and Yorkshire fits that bill having only raced four times in his career, and proving he could be well-treated off his handicap mark of 87.

I wouldn't say his form is the most reliable, having run at Southwell and is now back on turf, but he is a winner on turf before, so clearly handles the grass and I think he might've bumped into a decent one at Southwell last time out when he was beaten at odds-on.

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