It is a very busy Saturday with four runners at three different meetings and hopefully we can come home with a winner!
DUKE OF BRONTE – 3:45 Goodwood RUK
We are hoping it is going to be a big year for Duke of Bronte in 2018 and it started off in the best possible fashion by landing a £25,000 handicap at Chelmsford. Unfortunately, he was disappointing last time at Newmarket, where he was amongst those that chased an overly strong pace and he ended up finishing well beaten. Although nothing came to light afterwards, it may well be that he prefers to be ridden more patiently and quite simply, he could just have had an off day. On Saturday, he steps up to Listed level, with his owner breeders very keen to secure some black type for the family bloodlines and with just five runners, it could be an ideal opportunity for him to do just that. Although he is only rated 99, we feel he could easily run up to a mark of 105 especially looking at the way some of his form from last year worked out and he may well outrun his likely odds.
SIR RODERIC – 5:25 York RUK
After winning five times as a three-year-old, Sir Roderic found things tough last year and seems to have completely lost his confidence. However, the handicapper has certainly given him a real chance and he has dropped 23lb from his peak to a mark of just 74 tomorrow and hopefully we can get him back on track. He was only beaten three and a half lengths at Kempton two starts ago, a wide draw proving problematic and he didn’t see out ten furlongs on heavy ground last time. Back to seven furlongs from a good draw in one, he should not have too many excuses and with Pat’s experience in the saddle, we are hoping he goes close in a very valuable amateur riders race.
MASTER GREY – 7:50 Salisbury RUK
It is very hard to know what Master Grey actually achieved when getting off the mark in a three runner 1m6f handicap on heavy ground last time out and he faces very different conditions tomorrow evening, dropping back to 1m4f on a quicker surface. However, he is a horse we have always liked and moves so well that the ground should not be an issue. We should learn much more about him in a more conventional race and it will be interesting to see how he fares.
LIVINGSTONES QUEST – 8:20 Salisbury RUK
A winner of a heavy ground novice at Ffos Las last year, he started his season with a solid fifth at Lingfield over seven furlongs, staying on strongly in the closing stages, suggesting this step up to ten furlongs should suit. As a half-brother to Champagne Champ, he should have plenty of stamina and if he builds on that comeback, he has each way claims.