There were a couple of poor rides on our Friday selections.
Oisin got going on Novello Lad far too late, and by the time the horse was at top gear, the winner was lengths clear.
Culligran was given a very strange ride. I know the ground was soft at Cartmel, but to go wide all race and then go wide in the final straight seemed crazy. Effectively, the horse ran at least a furlong more than the others, so it wasn't a surprise when he was knackered at the finish.
Both horses were well-supported in their races, which makes it even more annoying.
Alnayef 50/1 EW (0.5pt EW, 5pl) – Newcastle 2.40
A horse I've tipped up previously on this page, and is one I've wanted to track, is Alnayef.
When I say track, I don't mean because he has been winning, but I've felt like this race has been a long-term plan since moving to Jim Goldie's yard. This horse was second to French Master when previously trained by John and Thady Gosden. That horse now looks like a potential staying star and won at Royal Ascot very easily last week.
Since moving to Jim's yard, it's fair to say they haven't been trying on him. He is always weak in the market, gets the second or third string jockeys and is ridden towards the rear. I've felt that they are trying to get his handicap mark down to then cash in on a decent race, or rack up multiple wins. The former is what is happening today as they are going for the Northumberland Vase, worth £38,655 to the winner.
Paul Mulrennan isn't on board, but he hasn't ridden off a weight this low in the last twelve months, so it's not a shock. Rhys Elliot is on board and takes off 5lbs, which means he will not be running from out of the handicap like he should be.
This new trip is an interesting tactic as he stays on in his races over shorter distances, and I thought at the odds he was worth a punt.
Crest Of Fire 9/4 (2pt) – York 3.40
Given how strong the form of the Newbury maiden now looks after Royal Ascot, Crest Of Fire is worthy of a bet on his second start.
Crest Of Fire ran a solid race at Newbury behind Humidity, who has since won the Chesham at Ascot last week. Not only that, but there have been many winners and good runs from horses in behind, and even right at the back of the field. Do Or Do Not is a prime example of this. That horse was 14th in the Newbury race, but was second to the impressive Gstaad from the Aidan O'Brien yard last week at Royal Ascot. Morris Dancer (7th) won next time out and beat the Godolphin horse in today's race, but was behind Crest Of Fire, so we have a little bit of collateral form.
The pedigree of my selection isn't the greatest, but given he was relatively fancied in the market last time out suggests he is a decent horse.
You'll struggle to find a more in-form yard than Jack Channon at the moment. He has had 10 winners from 24 runners in the last two weeks, which is a 42% strike rate.
GambleAware