Bath 15:30
There are just the seven runners going to post for this six-furlong handicap at Bath, however, it is a good quality looking field in what should be a decent race.
The Charlie Hills trained Barrington is at the top of the handicap and is actually making his handicap debut today. After winning a novice stakes at Windsor last summer he headed straight into pattern races. He finished sixth in the Arqana Stakes at Ascot (Group 2), fading in the final 100 yards after being prominent throughout, before being outclassed in his two races so far this year (the first a soft ground Listed race and then a seven-furlong Group 3). Reasonable excuses can be made for both of those runs and he is a big player taking a significant step down in class. Charlie Hills has an excellent long-term record here at Bath, as over the past five years he's had 17 winners (20.99%) and 34 places (41.98%) from 81 runners, for level stakes profits of 12.76 and 11.81 respectively.
Arzaak is yet to win over six furlongs (having won twice over five furlongs), however, this Casamento gelding has had plenty of close calls and doesn't appear to have a problem seeing out this trip. His mark of 84 is just two pounds higher than when winning at Catterick in May, and with Josephine Gordon on board who has a real liking for riding around here, he looks to be in with a chance. Trainer Chris Dwyer also has a fantastic record with his sprinters, showing a level stakes profit of 70.81 from 281 runners.
Super Julius is chasing a hat trick following wins at Wolverhampton and Brighton (both over five furlongs). He is now eight pounds higher than for the first of those wins, and that, together with the step up to six furlongs where so far in his career he hasn't seemed to have appreciated, mean I think he would do very well to get involved in a race of this quality.
Roger Varian runs Yalawin here, and he is a lightly raced three-year-old having had just the four runs to date. He hasn't been outside of the first three in those four runs and has a victory to his name from his only run over today's distance. That was a very easy win in a maiden at Ripon, and next time out when making his handicap debut, he was a fine second in a very good handicap at Windsor. That was over five furlongs and on unsuitable good to soft ground, so I think the step back up to six furlongs and the much firmer ground will see him in a far better light here today. Varian's stable is looking like running into form again, and with Atzeni doing the steering, a big run is expected.
Today's selection
Barrington - 1 point @ 12/1 (Skybet, Betfred)