Four meetings today and we have been through the lot, coming out the other side with 17 selections across Musselburgh, Nottingham, Salisbury and the Wolverhampton evening card. It is Nottingham that stands out. Fast ground has shaped that whole card and three of our strongest fancies are on it.
Beauty Generation in the 4:15 is the one we keep coming back to. His latest win was a career best on the clock, the quick ground suits, and he meets the same trip and conditions just 19 days on. None of his five rivals can match that form. Squealer in the 5:50 has genuine excuses for his recent placings. Traffic problems and strong rivals have masked speed figures that are climbing to a fresh peak, and he is well weighted now with trip and ground both covered. Emperor Caradoc completes the Nottingham trio in the 5:15. Dropped in grade, drawn well in stall six, and Paul Midgley’s strong record at the track adds another layer of comfort after his second 17 days ago.
Up at Musselburgh we have five going to post, and Hansteen in the 4:30 is the one to note. He races off just 53, a mark his improving profile has outgrown, and a second last time was the latest step forward at a trip he clearly handles. On form he looks the clear standout in his race.
The evening belongs to Wolverhampton and Salisbury. Into Combat opens the Wolverhampton card at 6:00 from stall 3, exactly where you want to be around there, and his times have been improving even while the finishing positions have not. The mark is lenient and the weight keeps coming down too. Later on we go in at bigger prices with Pulsar Star, Hakin Adraar and Watermelon Sugar, all backed each way. Over at Salisbury, Celeborn carries two points in the 7:51.
Yesterday brought no winner from five, though Whiskey Kisses and Level Up both hit the frame, and Level Up did so at a big price, which kept something coming back for each way backers. Not the day we wanted, but the places keep the book ticking over.
Seventeen runners is a full book by any measure. If the Nottingham three run to their figures, Tuesday could put things firmly back on track.