Five meetings on a Monday, and the shape of the day is unusual. The afternoon belongs to Ayr and Southwell, but the real weight of our book sits in the evening, where Ripon, Windsor and Galway keep us busy right through to dark.
Ayr is where we start, and the pick of the afternoon there is Geo in the 4.15. She has been faster than ever on the clock lately and drops in the weights for a race she can dominate. Runner-up in three of her last four, and in a five-runner field that consistency sets the standard. At 9/1 we want her onside each way. Forbidden Colours in the 3.15 is our biggest afternoon bet on the west coast, while Southwell supplies the fireworks. Miss Pretty and Telfy Boy both go off at big prices there, small stakes each way in case one of them runs to something, with Breakdancer a more solid proposition later on the card.
The evening is where we have gone in hardest. At Ripon, Riddikulus opens the card in the 6.00 and she ticks a lot of boxes. Winning form at the track, ground that brings out her best, and she is back after only five days having shown more than the result last time. A repeat of her recent win makes this hers. Harley in the 7.40 carries two points for us as well.
Windsor gives us Solar Invincible in the 6.53, and he sets the standard in a six-runner sprint. He arrives off a decisive second, has a win within his last six starts, and both the quick ground and the trip suit. The 42-day break is the only question we can find. Khuskhas and My Old Mate round off the Windsor card as two-point bets. Over at Galway, Dancing Saxon is short but deserves to be. Two wins from her last three, second in the other, and a five-day turnaround from a yard in red-hot form reads as intent. Themis in the 7.50 is the each-way angle there, back-to-back wins, a favourable draw, and a stable striking at 31 per cent.
Sunday gave us something to build on. At The Oche got the job done at a shade over evens and Point Lynas filled a place, so two of our three picks paid out.
Eighteen chances today, and if the evening goes the way the form says it should, Monday will look after itself.