CHEPSTOW 3.40 - Handicap - Class 6 - 6 Furlongs - 14 Run (currently Good to Soft > drying).

 

A competitive heat and 5 of these caught my eye including Castlerea Tess who ran better than the 6th place finish suggested here when a selection last time and Tawaafoq who ran in the same race finishing a disappointing 8th. Of the pair I'd be most reluctant to leave out Castlerea Tess, I don't think the drying ground does Tawaafoq any favours and I think there are a pair I fancy slightly more than Castlerea Tess who would be my reserve in the event of a non runner.

 

Our Man In Havanna won this race last year, has probably been aimed at a repeat and has a strong chance but in this Grade it's not really advisable to take too short a price on anything. 

 

My pair against the field are GLAMOUROUS CRESCENT who has Course wins over 7 furlongs but whose prominent running style should be suited to a fast run 6 furlongs here. A potentially nice draw and 3lbs below a win mark of 50 today, running off 47 with form on Good and Good to Firm Going suggest a bold bid and no excuses provided it has luck in running.

 

The other selection is PASTFACT another with Course form and over this distance. It's drawn lower but that's never a bad tactic in these Sprints to cover both angles of any Draw bias. It has won off marks of 53 and 56 and looks to be just running in to form and has no excuses off a mark of 50 here today.

 

TRACKERS - Glamourous Crescent + Pastfact (reserve and Tricast Castlerea Tess).

 

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EPSOM 7.20 - Handicap - Class 5 - 1 mile 4 furlongs - 11 run - Good to Soft (drying to something probably firmer than Good)

 

The one who really caught my eye here is LADY PENDRAGON. Hampered by a faller at Haydock last time but the form of its previous run is working out well. Being by Camelot out of an Hernando mare the pedigree cries out for 12 furlongs and a pair of impressive AW wins over 10 furlongs when younger suggests that 12 furlongs should now be the optimum trip.

 

Trainer Martin Smith has been amongst the winners in the past few weeks with a small string and never a bad omen to see Hayley Turner in the saddle. I think it will outrun double figure Odds and it goes with quiet confidence.