Racing tips: Only Spoofing is great each-way value at Navan

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Saturday's racing looks fairly average for your typical Saturday afternoon, and not much caught my eye so just the three selections:

Newbury 1:35

Trainer: Marcus Tregoning

Jockey: Dane O'Neill

Form: 151-35

After winning on debut at odds of 20/1 last year, RIBHI seemed to have the world at his feet, but it didn't quite pan out the way most people thought it might've. He has been tried in some tough races since his debut win, and you'd have to say rightly so, but I think they've been campaigning him wrong all along.

He has ran some decent enough races and finishing behind some good horses. He was well fancied for the Doncaster Listed race which took place last September which had Noble Truth (now rated 112), Hoo Ya Mal (105 rated), Alflaila (109 rated) and a couple more. During that race he was blocked on a couple of occasions, which didn't help his chances. He travelled strongly through that race, and that appeared to be a theme throughout his races since. He won a 6f race at Salisbury on soft ground, which he didn't have to be at his best to win, but it looked like he appreciated a faster surface. The form of that race has worked out well with the 3rd (Witch Hunter) now being rated 101. His runs so far this season have been disappointing but they were over 7f and Newmarket on both occasions, which I'm sure doesn't suit him. He travelled well on his first run, and then the second run was too bad to be true but wasn't helped by a tardy start.

I'm certain this horse is a 6f sprinter and a fast pace will set it up beautifully for him. This flat track should also help, as this strong travelling type can creep into contention before pouncing late on. It doesn't bother me that Jim Crowley has opted for the other Shadwell horse, and if I'm honest, I don't really rate Jim, he's massively overrated and Dane is a cool customer who will suit this lad with his calm riding.

Navan 3:15

 Trainer: Kevin Thomas Coleman

Jockey: Mikey Sheehy (3)

Form: 47-000

Seeing three 0's next to the form of this season is not encouraging, but ONLY SPOOFING had a similar profile at the start of last year's turf season before winning this race. It looks like connections have planned the same route in attempt to win this race in back-to-back seasons.

This horse is a decent sprint horse and a mark of 75 which is effectively 72 makes him well handicapped. He is best seen on good ground, which he'll get tomorrow and is at a track which he clearly enjoys. He won this race last year off a mark of 80, so he 8lb better off this year. He has raced 3x this year and he raced 3x last year where he finished nowhere in all three. He has raced at the same meeting of Tipperary and Naas like he did last year, so it seems all a bit too convenient that they've done that. This doesn't seem a strong race for the grade, and any market moves would suggest that we're in for a big run.

Thirsk 2:20

 Trainer: Kevin Ryan

Jockey: Kevin Stott

Form: 6

FLYING BARTY was a tip from me at Newmarket on the first weekend of the flat season (I think) and I was pleased with the run despite the fact he finished 6th. Everything went wrong for her that day, she was kicking off before the start of the race and then was keen throughout and then didn't handle the dip. I said that this is going to be a good horse and it'll be worth sticking with her on a more conventional track. Kevin Ryan has given her 32 days off to learn her trade and mature a little more and now he is letting her loose again, and I think the early odds of 7/2 are more than fair and she is worth another chance. She is related to a couple of smart horses, including Boonie who was a good early juvenile for Kevin Ryan.

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