Racing tips: Soft ground specialist Secret Shadow can continue her forward progression as a 4yo.

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I can't seem to get a grip of the flat season as of yet, and yesterday was agonising with Flotus being beaten by small margins and Rachael Blackmore sat too confident on the other horse who was backed in below EVS and finished second.

Goodwood 2:50

 Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Hayley Turner

Form: 21411-

With the ground being changed to Soft at Goodwood yesterday it brings SECRET SHADOW into this race with a big chance. This horse progressed nicely last season on testing ground and there's no reason to believe that progress should be stopped now she is a 4yo.

This race looks competitive on paper, but it's crying out for an improving horse to grab it by the scruff of the neck. You have some decent horses at the top of the weights but they are surely coming to an end of their career. The interesting horses are towards the bottom of the weights, but they don't all take to the ground like Secret Shadow does, which is why she is a great price and one to be on side with.

The fact she has had no run is a slight concern, but the fact she was entered at Epsom and was eventually pulled out due to the fast ground gives me the feeling she will be much further forward in her fitness than you'd think as they would've got her ready for that race, and she would've stripped fitter for that prep so the fact they've given her a month to get even fitter is a positive. I can't see any excuses for fitness being an issue.

Haydock 3:10

 Trainer: Hugo Palmer

Jockey: James Doyle

Form: 111-61

I think it's fairly significant that connections have decided to go for this race than the race after with FLAMING RIB. I thought the idea of dropping back to 5f last time was a cracking idea and it seemed to have worked out pretty well as he won with a fair bit in hand but he did stay on strongly at the line and the horse really stuck his neck out so there seemed to be potential for 6f as well. Hugo and the owner has gone for the 6f race and I can see how it does suit him as he is a strong traveller but has a nice turn of foot. This race looks a tricky one but you have to be a fairly smart horse to win this race in recent years with the average RPR to win is around 115-116 so the fact this horse has already produced a rating 110 this year shows he's at the right calibre to win this. He's has two runs this season so his fitness won't be an issue, and he gets on well with good ground so the ground should be spot on for him. There is a lot of pace in this race, so a horse who stays the 6f well is what you want and I think this lad fits that title. He's not an amazing price now, and isn't an EW play currently, so if he drifts to around 11/2 – 6/1 then I'd play him EW but if shorter then it's just a win bet for me.

Curragh 5:03

 Trainer: Paddy Twomey

Jockey: W J Lee

Form: 310P-

Paddy Twomey is probably my favourite trainer in Ireland and I think he is brilliant with the stable he has. He is a very shrewd operator, which is a term which gets chucked about quite loosely these days, but he is 100% fitting to that title. PINAR DEL RIO has been gelded since last season and when you combine that with ground with a little bit of juice in it I think he could be a little overpriced in this contest.

He was a quick juvenile who started the season off well with a 3rd and a win from his first two starts. He was then chucked into the deep end in a Group 2 where it didn't quite go to plan and was then PU in July. He's clearly had problems hence why he's been off the track for 300 days but his early potential gives the impression he could be better than a 87 rated horse. The return to ground which isn't quick will be to his benefit and in a race where most turn up to this in fairly terrible form, he looks worthy of taking a chance on.

York 2:55

 Trainer: Michael Dods

Jockey: Connor Beasley

Form: 5446-0

If I didn't back this lad after the ride he had last time and he won I'd be kicking myself. I said that whenever and wherever JAWWAAL races next I'll be on, and it's today so I'll be a supporter of his again.

I had a little bit of rage from the ride he had last time out and it stunk of a none trier. The horse was on the bridle and Paul Mulrennan didn't even try and win the race. I think he is more than capable of winning a race like this off his current mark and it's no surprise they are back here after 9 days where the prize money to the winner is 10k bigger than the race he contested just over a week ago.

He's an EW price again and it would be ridiculous if connections don't fancy winning this race as it's a good pot.

York 3:30

 Trainer: Ed Walker

Jockey: Ross Coakley

Form: 5336-4

I've been waiting a very long time to see GLENARTNEY over this longer trip. She was scheduled to run in a race over 14f last year but was pulled out due to the ground. I fancied her to run a big race that day so was a bit gutted to see her be a NR. There is a strong possibility that she will be a NR today as the ground is deemed as ‘good', which doesn't appear to be best suited, however I think she is worth taking a chance on.

This race doesn't look all that strong if the truth be told. Believe In Love has been disappointing on the whole since her constant set of wins and Mighty Blue's recent form doesn't scream that she is bulletproof.

Glenartney has had a nice seasonal opener so she should be match fit and rearing to go. This looks a great opportunity to land some Group 3 winning blacktype which is so important to the breeding side of the game.

Musselburgh 4:13

 Trainer: William Haggas

Jockey: Cieren Fallon

Form: 03-1

With William Haggas winning the previous two renewals of this race, it's hard to look elsewhere other than NATHANAEL GREEN who makes the trip up from Newmarket to make it a hat trick of wins in this race. It's not a great surprise to see William bringing up an unexposed type for this race again as the prize money to the winner is very generous for a Class 3 (25k).

William's horses are in tremendous form as of late and arguably the most in form trainer so it's a little surprise to see odds of 5/2 floating around for this horse.

Since going up in trip he has looked more at home and a further 2f today should bring out even further improvement. He has a nice pedigree and is related to horses who have stayed this far, including My Frankel who was/is a decent handicapper. William has a 40% SR at this track, so doesn't bring them to mess about.

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