What we said before each race, and what won. Published that morning at 8am and never edited.
7 races · we bet 2 · we named the winner in 2
Class 4 · 0m5f7y · Soft · 8 ran
We passed. Likely winner: Sod Hall Lane (10/11)
Won by: Sod Hall Lane (IRE) at 11/8 · then Royal Strike (IRE)
What we said: Sod Hall Lane's odds-on price already reflects a promising debut second, but a single run at 10/11 offers no cushion for error, and Royal Strike's OR75 tag and improving 4-3 form make this too close a two-horse dispute to back either at the price on offer.
Class 6 · 0m6f6y · Soft · 13 ran
We passed. Likely winner: Iris Dancer (4/1)
Won by: Big Apple Jack (GB) at 11/2 · then Lumenbourg (GB), Valentine Catcher (GB)
What we said: This is a wide-open 13-runner Class 6 handicap on Soft, and at least four runners have plausible but unconvincing cases at their prices: Iris Dancer's market-line looks strongest on paper but her last two starts (0, 5) undercut the trainer's decent course record, Big Apple Jack is in form (2-5-4-2) yet unproven at this class edge, Valentine Catcher is trending the right way (9-7-2) without a proven finish, and Lumenbourg's cheekpieces debut adds pure guesswork — nothing separates them cleanly enough to back with conviction.
Class 5 · 1m5f16y · Soft · 12 ran
Our bet: Clocker (2/1)
Won by: Perseus Way (IRE) at 2/1 · then Spanish Hustle (GB), Ebony Maw (GB)
What we said: Two wins and a second from the last three starts show a filly building into serious form, and the strong Edward Bethell/course combination backs that trajectory at this trip. She's proven at Hamilton, races confidently on soft, and looks the type still on the way up rather than levelling off.
Class 2 · 0m6f6y · Soft · 8 ran
We passed. Likely winner: Battle Fever (6/5)
Won by: Trumpety Trump (IRE) at 22/1 · then Sea Mirage (IRE), Battle Fever (IRE)
What we said: the write-up made a claim the racecard does not support, so this pick was withheld
Class 5 · 0m6f6y · Soft · 10 ran
We passed. Likely winner: Diamont Katie (7/2)
Won by: Annie Edson Taylor (GB) at 7/1 · then Diamont Katie (IRE), Invincible Ruby (IRE)
What we said: Diamont Katie is clearly the classiest filly here on that 123420 form-line but has never raced on soft in 17 starts, and with more rain forecast that's too big a question mark on the market leader; behind her, Mae Amor, Invincible Ruby and Thunderstorm Katie all carry the same soft-ground uncertainty or drifting markets, leaving no runner whose case survives the ground doubt at today's price.
Class 6 · 1m0f68y · Soft · 10 ran
Our bet: Tee Aitch Aye (5/2)
Won by: Tee Aitch Aye (IRE) at 7/4F · then Aurelune (IRE), Scheffler (IRE)
What we said: Form figures read 8-0-7-6-3-2, a clear improving trend that culminated in a solid second last time out, and the drop back in trip plus proven course form (1076 in 4 runs) both play to his strengths on this soft surface. The 3lb claim from Jack Nicholls is a small bonus on a horse whose profile rate (67) and strike rate (70) top this modest field.
Class 6 · 1m3f15y · Soft · 9 ran
We passed. Likely winner: Annandale (7/2)
Won by: Uncle Liam (IRE) · then Dandy's Angel (IRE), Hickton (IRE)
What we said: Four runners (Annandale, Sophiesticate, Dubai Venture, Uncle Liam) all sit inside a tight band of recent placed form and plausible claims at their prices, and nothing in the shape of this Class 6 handicap picks one out cleanly from the pack. Annandale's 413342 sequence and course form (413) are the best on paper, but the price already reflects that without leaving daylight for a confident bet.
Outcomes on this page are read from the official result, not from our own settlement records. How we measure ourselves · The full record
