The horse racing action moves on to Beverley and Bath on Thursday with the unusually dry weather already having an impact on the ground. The going is good to firm on the Yorkshire track, good in places, but firm at Bath.
Hopefully there won’t be too many non-runners and the cards will hold up pretty well overnight. The 2.30 at Beverley is a competitive three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs and it may be worth taking a chance on Keith Dalgleish’s Go Dan Go. He is yet to score in five attempts but did little wrong when chasing home Second Wave at Redcar last time. The Godolphin-owned winner could turn out to be quite useful and Go Dan Go is worth another chance at this level.
Sir Michael Stoute got one on the board at Newbury at the weekend with Arab Spring in the John Porter Stakes. He saddles an interesting runner in Pleiades in the 3.00 race with Graham Lee on board. The son of Galileo looked a bit weak as a juvenile but Lee made all on him to win over course and distance in September. Graham Gibbons is in the saddle on Thursday and a mark of 84 may prove to be lenient.
Over at Bath, Roger Charlton saddles Master Zephyr in the 6.55 race with William Twiston-Davies in the saddle. He was unplaced in decent maiden races at Sandown and Newbury last season but ran out a good winner when dropped in grade at Wolverhampton in October. Although he had only a neck to spare over Romance Story, he was staying on powerfully at the finish and this race looks a fairly gentle introduction.
Austin Friars is an all-weather winner for Godolphin and the majority of those have struggled when switched to the turf. Triple Dip cannot be supported with any confidence after being beaten at the odds of 1-20 last time out so Master Zephyr gets the vote.
The runners in the maiden at 7.25 are not the quickest on four legs but Crisscrossed, Honourable Action and Ya Hade Ye Delil have all shown signs of ability. Frankie Dettori has made a great start to the season and I’m hoping to see him try forcing tactics on Ye Hade Ye Delil who has looked very one-paced in his previous races.
In the closing handicap, Akavit can defy a further 5lbs rise for Ed de Giles. He was in front a long way from home last time and Lorelei may have been flattered by her proximity at the line.
Go Dan Go 2.30 Beverley @9-2 Paddy Power
Pleiades 3.00 Beverley @9-4 Coral
Master Zephyr 6.55 Bath @9-4 Bet365
Ya Hade Ye Delil 7.25 Bath @9-4 Bet365
Akavit 7.55 Bath @2-1 Bet365
