Close but no cigar for us on Saturday. For sure, Sea Of Leaves was more than a tad disappointing at Ascot but the day's remaining advice saw Express Wish 3rd e/w 6/1 > 7/2 and Manchestermaverick beaten a neck at Lingfield. We did collect on Talk Of Saafend, our NAP of the day, but if any of those other three horses had gone in we would have enjoyed a very nice day indeed.
Still, we've a great week to look forward to and we'll be off to Goodwood tomorrow. Before that, a few messages to pass on for what has turned out to be a fairly quiet start to the week.
Only four meetings today and two of them, Uttoxeter and Yarmouth, have produced nothing of any note whatsoever. These are meetings we'll happily pass over.
As a result we'll have a quick word for one horse at Southwell this afternoon, Dandy Nicholls' Varadouro. This course and ditance winner back in April also ran well here on its penultimate start in May. Dropped to claiming class we're told the 6yo will be in with a big chance in what is a very mediocre race.
More solid information for tonight's meeting at Windsor. Here we'd pass on a word for the Noseda runner in the 7.10, #3 Giverny. The yard have a good record with their juveniles (8-21, 38%) and the yard's sole runner at the meeting it's very much respected.
Stronger news follows in the 7.40 with #2 Orange Pip (NAP). The Hannon filly is a course and distance winner, has few miles on the clock (four races with one win and three 2nd places) and with Richard Hughes on board has every chance tonight to justify favouritism. We expect a big run from this one.
A final word for John Dunlop's Unbiased in the 8.15 - the 3yo might just be the value against Border Owl - and that's the lot for today. A quiet day but we'll never invent news for the sake of it nor will we waste your time with advice we think is weak or misguided.
Glorious Goodwood tomorrow and we'll be back with you first thing on Tuesday.