15:50 - Salisbury
Salisbury hosts an exciting looking Group 3 race for two-year-old fillies, being run over six furlongs, and a lot of the top yards are represented.
William Haggas has been in great form recently and he has two runners here today. One Minute has won two of his four races to date (all of them over five furlongs) but something seemed amiss last time out in a Listed race at Newbury, as she hung very badly left and was never dangerous. Ryan Moore takes the ride today and this Kodiac filly looks sure to appreciate the extra furlong along with any drying of the ground. She has won on good to soft but looked more at home on the firmer ground, therefore, the lack of rain will be appreciated.
The other Haggas runner is Special Purpose, and she is ridden by Oisin Murphy. She won her first two races before stepping into Group 2 company and finishing a respectable fifth of nine (beaten just over three lengths). This was also her first try over six furlongs and on similar going as today, so I think she could have a big part to play in this one. She is sired by the incredible Scat Daddy and already has a mark of 99, therefore, I think she has the potential to be very useful indeed.
The highest rated filly in the field Eirene, with a mark of 101. She has won two of her four races so far (being placed in the other two) including a Listed race over five furlongs at Newbury last time out. She was staying on very strongly that day and looks suited well enough to six furlongs, and with Adam Kirby taking over the steering duties today I think she could be tough to beat.
England v West Indies
West Indies were the incredibly unlikely victors in the second test and that has set things up perfectly in the three match series. England will be looking to bounce back and take the series before heading out to Australia for the Ashes this winter.
Moeen Ali has been an unsung hero of this England team for a while now and only four players have ever got to 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in fewer tests than him. A drying Lords pitch will be to his liking and I fancy his chances of being the leading wicket taker in this match at a tempting price of 6/1.
Joe Root has looked in great touch this summer and he will be keener than most to take his second series win as England captain. Therefore, I would not be surprised to see him amass a huge total and am backing him to be top batsman at 4/1.
Today's Selections
Salisbury 15:50 - Eirene - 1 point at 4/1
England v West Indies - top bowler - 1 point Moeen Ali at 6/1
England v West Indies - top batsman - 1 point Joe Root at 4/1