We'll Be Brief

French Saulaie was a disappointment, Thursday, finishing only 4th. The optimistic would say he pulled too hard to do himself justice but, realistically, he is not the same horse over chases as he was over hurdles. He'll have to show marked improvement for me to back him again.

The (4) and (5) graded races we recommend for dutch betting performed well again, Friday. There were six such races and all were successful - though a couple were won by odds on shots. Four of the six were won by the clear top rated horse, the other two by the 2nd top rated.

So another very good day.

Saturday is a horrible looking day for betting. The highlight is, of course, the return of real flat racing at Doncaster. The fields are all large and you'll need a good dose of fortune to get a winner or two.

The feature is the Lincoln handicap which I always consider as a fun betting race. I never treat it as a race to get heavily involved in.

The top of TowerForm's handicap includes a couple of All Weather exceptions we alluded to in an earlier post. They are Flipando and Titan Triumph which run on opposite sides of the track. Sandwiched by these two is the ante post favourite, Expresso Star who is doubtful because I have seen no significant rain hereabouts (15 miles from Doncaster). John Gosden is to walk the course after the first race to see how the ground has reacted to a score of two-year-old hooves. If he likes what he sees the horse will run. Hopefully, he will run because we fancy him quite a lot. This could be the last handicap he contests because in our, and others, opinion, he is likely to progress to the lower ranks of group and the higher ranks of listed racing.

If Expresso Star doesn't run we will have a blind each way punt on Flipando and Titan Triumph - more in hope than in expectation. If there is a marked draw preference showing after the first three races, then you can throw the form book out of the window and just go with your gut. It is that type of race.

Elsewhere, Sue Smith has her team in cracking form at the moment and her Be Brief looks on a very lenient mark for his handicap debut in Uttoxeter's 4-20. We'll be looking to take an early price.

Be lucky.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Added Note: I have just discovered that the TowerForm Free Trial address has been malfunctioning (for want of a better word). I have found scores of free trial requests that we have not answered. I will be sending emails out to free trial applicants who have not received the free trial due to the malfunction. If you have asked for a free trial but have not received one this year (2009), please go to TowerForm HERE and re-send your request. Please accept my apologies.