Beardwood and Wild Storm will be targeted by punters today at Pontefract and Windsor where both meetings are set to be staged on "good" ground; popular venues and with sizeable crowds bookmakers shouldn't have any complaints about business unless, of course, these forecast-favourites oblige!
In such circumstances one always searches for an each-way alternative, "attacking the places" is the recipe for continued success, especially when 'playing' each-way doubles, but neither faces stern opposition and the likelihood is that "big-hitters" will plunge on Richard Fahey-trained Beardwood in the Maiden 3-y-o Stakes over six furlongs before taking stock about Wild Storm.
Coincidentally both are once-raced and second in 2014; doubtless patience has been exercised with a view to taking advantage of physical maturity.
On the time-handicap Beardwood is "thrown-in" and that's also the case with Wild Storm, trained by Saeed bin Suroor who struck last week; another important factor, always "be with" stables in form and never back horses off the back of an unexplained poor run.
While perusing the rest of those cards Midnight Rider popped up like flash of light for the "aged" handicap over five furlongs at the Thames-side course.
Midnight Rider is dropped back to the minimum distance but I've always maintined any thoroughbred capable of showing good speed over seven furlongs, never mind six, is probably a sprinter waiting to happen.
Experience can often denote whether a horse running over seven needs further or indeed less distance; I've been watching them long enough!