Tuesday 29th May

In the race The Professor has attacked I was drawn to HAVANA MARIPOSA at very nice odds of 20/1 with Sky going odds to 4th. The Yard has already delivered us a 28/1 winner this Flat season and I noted that this one is eased in Grade and dropped in trip. It's best runs have been at this trip, it didn't run better at further in better races and if they go off fast here, which can happen, I can see the selection finishing well from off the pace past flagging rivals. Use Sky if you can. Up at Redcar if we can see through the mist (sea fret); I really liked the handicap marks of a pair in the 3.00 race. I will discount (for now) Abushamah - (I'm not sure if Ruth Carr is actually out of form, May is normally her time and it may be we expect too much. I actually think she does well in May usually with super-fit horses who like a bit of cut, what we have had is unusually dry weather most of the month and if we have a wet spell I can see here being one to follow through that!) That leaves me with GOD WILLING at around 14/1 and Ladbroke/Coral and Sky going "odds to 4th place" - it is not the horse it was BUT as I always say, every horse has a level it can win at - this is a drop in Grade and a step up to a mile from 7 furlongs (it has won at a mile) may be beneficial as it won't be taken off its feet early, the handicap mark and a decent Claimer, made it jump off the page really and with Ce La Vie (the obvious one to follow up) possibly a little fragile (if you look at its history, first time it has run a 4th race without a 2-3 month break) I think worth a "mention punt" to 4th place odds.