Saturday 5th May

1.35pm Goodwood – Age Of Wisdom 1pt Win (7/1)

He’s yet to win on the turf for this stable, but has been in rude health on the all-weather in recent starts and if transferring that onto the grass then he’ll take a bit of beating today. He beat Western Way in a handicap at Kempton well and that rival has gone on to frank that form twice since. Last time out at Lingfield, Age Of Wisdom bumped into a well-handicapped sort in the shape of Cliffs Of Dover and was 6 lengths clear of the third.

2.05pm Goodwood – What A Home 2pts Win (11/4)

On the face of it William Haggas’ filly has plenty to do to be involved here as she’s the lowest rated filly in the race with a mark of 87. But she has only had the four starts and looks the exact type to come on leaps and bounds this season. She has won her last two starts including a handicap on her final outing of last season which was sedately run and a truer gallop should see her to better effect today. A half-sister to Aidan O’Brien’s dual Group 3 winner Venus De Milo, she has the pedigree to get better on paper and has already shown significant ability on the track. It’s interesting to note that her trainer has pitched her into a race of this nature given she’d have a pretty strong chance in a handicap off this mark, so he must think a fair bit of her.

2.20pm Newmarket – Havana Grey 2pts Win (9/4)

The maths speaks for itself here, Havana Grey is 8lbs clear on official ratings and on top of that he receives weight from the whole field. There are factors to consider though with the main one being, has he trained on? Well reports are positive from his trainer Karl Burke. Often in these sorts of races the three year old is quite a short price, because of the weight for age allowance and flashy form from last season and these days I would tend to stay away. But the price of Havana Grey is more than fair and that’s what has tempted me in.

3.05pm Wetherby – Original Choice 1pt Win (7/1)

I backed Original Choice in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his reappearance but as it turned out he was slightly underwhelming. But i can forgive him that given how boggy the ground was and it was his seasonal return. He remains on the same mark today and still looks well-handicapped based on his second to Century Dream in September, he’s still lightly raced so there should be plenty more to come.

3.15pm Goodwood – Shamshon 1pt Win (5/1)

A competitive sprint but Shamshon is still on a good mark on the peak of last years form and his run at Epsom last time was encouraging. He had to wait a touch for a run at a crucial time and that allowed the winner to get first run on him, he closed all the way to the line and was in front soon after. Up just a pound from that effort, if reproducing the form of his Newmarket win last July with the visor back on, he’ll go close.

4.10pm Newmarket – Yafta 1pt Win (15/2 Betfair, 7/1 general)

A steady improver for Richard Hannon last season, Yafta could be set for a productive 2018. He is nicely bred son of Dark Angel out of a dual Listed winning sprinter and ended last season winning his handicap debut in good style at Chelmsford. He’s unexposed and has a very likeable, progressive profile. He beat a subsequent dual winner on his penultimate start and could take a bit of stopping here.

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