Alnashama and Paul Hanagan look a winning combination in division one of the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of "good to soft" Redcar this afternoon, the biggest day, quantity-wise in the English racing scene calendar.
Running in tandem will be an all-weather fixture on Wolverhampton Tapeta which rides fastest of all artificial surfaces and five jumping programmes; none will contain a better bet than Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Alnashma, a superbly-bred colt and, significantly, the only runner today for Lambourn trainer, Charles Hills.
We're expecting a stack of winners from his Faringdon Place stables, so many are being prepared for the classic trials which begin in earnest at Newbury next week, after the wonderful Grand National "Festival" this weekend when we have a strong fancy for the "Worlds" greatest horserace!'
It's all go from now, sunshine will be a major boost for thoroughbreds and forecasts seem to be optimistic; hopefully Alnashama will "kick off" a consistent spell by outclassing twelve rivals under the dual champion jockey who knows the Northern racing scene better than anyone; methinks he'll allow Alnashama to bowl along and sort out the wheat from the chaff; why sit behind moderates?
This second division looks even weaker and David O'Meara-trained Spryt, rated 76 from form in Ireland, has only Godolphin-trained newcomer, Well Off, to beat.
Probability is that Well Off will be far too good and so my serious "play" will be a "thieving" each-way double Alnashama and Spryt in the knowledge that one of three places are guaranteed with a good chance of both winning.
With EW doubles the place is the issue because if the first one prevails it's possible to "take out" the win on Betfair betting exchanges; betting is a business, never forget.
Marma's Boy should be a "special" in the seven-runner Maiden Stakes over an extended nine furlongs of Dunstall Park; don't oppose Ralph Beckett's charge which is massively-fancied and worth following.