Comic Hero was a non-runner, which meant we were down to just Quebella at Bath.
Quebella gave herself no chance after being as keen as she was, but Jamie Spencer was never going to give her a chance anyway.
It pains me when a jockey can't adapt to a different ride on the fly. It was clear as day that Spencer planned he was going to hold Quebella up, but you could tell from the first 25 yards it was going to be a problem.
There was no pace, which resulted in Quebella being keen, and Spencer couldn't settle her. Why not take the initiative and get her to the front? He didn't, and the horse had little left to give in the final couple of furlongs, as she had used her energy up in the wrong sections of the race.
Cindy Lou Who 20/1 (EW, 3pl) – Salisbury 4.49
After wanting to take the favourite on, but struggling to find one, I did think that she was the one to beat. But, after another look through the entire race, I stumbled across Cindy Lou Who at the bottom of the list in terms of odds, and I thought she deserved to be a little bit shorter in the market.
Tony Carroll's filly hasn't been in the greatest of form this year, after having a very productive season last year. However, her best runs are on slow ground, and she hasn't encountered any of that this year; when she did get good to soft, she ran her best race.
She finished 9th/20 in the Epsom Dash, and she ran in that off a mark of 94, recording an RPR of 92. Other than that, apart from her first start of the season where she finished second in a Listed race, which was worthy of an RPR of 97, she has been underwhelming. As a result, her handicap mark has dramatically dropped to 84, which makes her very well-handicapped.
I'm not 100% confident that six furlongs is her ideal trip, but on slow ground and off a very appealing handicap mark, I'm willing to part ways with my cash at odds of 22/1.
Miss Tonnerre 22/1 (EW, 3pl) – Haydock 4.25
With bad weather hitting the UK, Haydock was always bound to be soft, as it doesn't have the best of drainage systems. With this ground being a question mark for a few, including the 11/8 favourite, I thought you could find something to take her on.
My fancy, Miss Tonnerre, is far from reliable, but that is why she is 22/1. Instantly, not seeing George Downing or Kieran Shoemark in the saddle is a slight concern, but Ashley Lewis is used by Ed Walker, and he is a solid 5lb claimer.
Her profile is worrying, but she did start her career in good style, but then found herself competing at a high level, and probably far too soon. Her handicap mark has fallen, and she hasn't been on the track too much over the last twelve months, with regular breaks. She returned earlier this season with a poor effort over 12f on the AW, but I think soft ground on turf is what she wants.
She is by Night Of Thunder, who is known to produce many soft-ground lovers, and her Dam was also a lover of rain-softened ground. I'll take a chance that she is in good health, as 22/1 seems a little too high.
GambleAware