If there was ever a horse to sum up this season on the flat, it was Starlust.
He had the best form in the race by a country mile and had no excuses for why he didn't win, but that was the case. Instead, we had a three-year-old lead from start to finish and saw one rival, who finished in second place. A farce of a race, and outside of the two pushing the pace, nothing else got involved. Just baffles me how a horse can win a Group 1 last year, then finish placed in a Group 1 this year, but get beaten by a horse like that.
Candy was backable on the back of the heavy rain forecast. His form this year was woeful, but he had always shown his best form on testing ground. He didn't today, and finished second to last. I'm not going to lie, I couldn't spot him in the race. The viewing was horrendous.
The Resdev Roman 5/2 – Hamilton 2.30
The rain in Scotland has continued to fall, and the ground at Hamilton is going to be testing, just like Ayr was on previous days. So with that said, having a horse that can handle the conditions is a must.
The Resdev Roman won last time out, and it looked to have been a bit of a surprise for connections. She was 11/1 and was the second pick if you were to look at the owner's silks, as they also had another runner in the race, yet The Resdev Roman sported the second silks. She had previously finished seventh in her two other outings, so you can definitely see why she wasn't strong in the market.
Last time out she encountered soft ground at Ripon, and it looks like she really enjoyed it, as it was the best performance of her career and she did win comfortably in the end, winning by a widening 1.25 lengths. Knowing that she handles today's conditions is a big confidence booster against horses who have their best form on faster ground.
Annie Edson Taylor 4/1 – Hamton 3.30
The booking of Billy Loughnane on Persian Spirit was enough for me to give her a pass. She made an encouraging return to the track last time out, and has form on soft ground from previous years, but Sam James rode her last time out, and he has decided to keep his ride on recent course and distance winner Annie Edson Taylor.
This is a step up in grade for Annie Edson Taylor, but she in total control when winning at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, so I believe she can handle it.
She won on soft last time out, and has previously run her best races on soft ground. Her only blip of testing ground was on heavy, but I think you can forgive horses for a poor race on that type of ground, as even some soft ground lovers don't want it bottomless.
I like the fact that Sam James has stuck to this horse rather than ride Persian Spirit, and that was a big part of why I picked her over the favourite, who clearly has a strong chance.
GambleAware