Yarmouth 15:45
This is quite a nice looking handicap being run over a mile on good to firm ground at Yarmouth.
A lot of the big trainers are represented here today, and Mark Johnson has a chance with Kodiac Khan. He could only manage fourth of six last time out at Beverley, however that was in a better race than this and the winner and runner up in that race have gone on to win again since. That was also over seven furlongs, when a mile definitely appears to be his optimum trip at the moment. He was held up last time out, however I expect Joe Fanning to have him much closer to the pace this time around and he has a reasonable draw to do this, coming from stall 11.
Hakeem, trained by William Haggas, is a really interesting runner, as he comes into a handicap after only having the one run. That was a maiden here at Yarmouth in which he was a good winner, and the third in that race has somewhat franked the form by subsequently winning a maiden of their own. It is always difficult to judge how good a horse is after just the one run, however he comes from a powerful yard that is in form. Haggas also has a very good long term record here at Yarmouth, as over the past five years he's had 35 winners from 117 runners (29.91%), yielding a level stakes profit of 22.01.
Godolphin have a runner in this and Hersigh looks a useful prospect. She has so far had six starts over distances from six to nine furlongs, and on a variety of different surfaces, including four of those races on the all weather tracks. She was third in a similar level of race last time out on soft going at Leicester, and I think that the return to better ground will definitely be in her favour. She is usually very prominent early on in her races, and early leaders over this distance at Yarmouth do have a very good record.
Ryan Moore comes in and rides Moolazim, who has had just the two races in his career so far. He was a winner first time out on the all weather at Chelmsford, before finishing very strongly to be fourth of eight in a handicap, again on the all weather, at Lingfield. I expect him to relish the switch to turf, and the step up in distance to a mile looks almost certain to suit as well. With Moore being on board for the first time being an added bonus, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him involved and has definite place claims at least.
Fujaira Bridge is the Roger Varian runner, and is another in the field that has a win to their name. He won a maiden at Ripon on good to firm, before being outclassed in a Listed race at Chester, as well as finding ten furlongs too far. This Sea The Stars colt is the highest rated in the field, and the drop back down in trip to a mile looks certain to bring the best out of him, and is another who has claims to be right there at the business end of proceedings.
Today's selection
Moolazim - 1 point @ 11/2 (Paddy Power, William Hill)