Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action, including a 100/1 at the 1000 Guineas.
14:05 Hamilton
It seems significant that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Roger Varian have persisted with Postileo (best priced at 9/2) and I am hoping that he can make a winning return following 562 days off the track. The six-year-old had looked a progressive stayer in 2021 when last seen with his victory at Doncaster in October 2021 coming in comfortable fashion by 1 ½ lengths.
Postileo has been gelded since that last run but it is interesting that the handicapper has only raised him 1lb since his previous victory. That should give him a good chance of defying this mark of 95 and I expect him to make a winning reappearance under Ray Dawson.
15:40 Newmarket
Billesdon Brook proved in 2018 horses at big prices (66/1 SP) can win the 1000 Guineas and I am hoping that Olivia Maralda (best priced at 100/1) can provide an another upset in the race. The daughter of Kodiac was trained by Michael O’Callaghan in Ireland last season where she ran well at Royal Ascot before getting off the mark at Newbury over 7f. She finished only ¾ length behind the reopposing Meditate (2nd favourite for this race) in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes before disappointing when sent off favourite for the Rockfel Stakes here last time.
Fillies can always be excused one below par run and I am hoping that Olivia Maralda can make a winning stable debut for Roger Varian. She was a NR in the Fred Darling Stakes on soft ground on her reappearance which is a bit of a concern but she is too bigger price to ignore in this race with up to five places available.
16:58 Hamilton
This looks a competitive 0-65 handicap but I am willing to take a chance on last year’s winner Kats Bob (best priced at 9/1) who has dropped back to his last winning mark. The Iain Jardine trained five-year-old won this race last season by a neck off a mark of 62 on his second start of the season and he bids to do the same this year off a mark of 64 on his third start of the season. He has a good record at Hamilton with form figures of 32112248 with his only disappointing effort coming in an Amateur riders’ race last season.
Kats Bob won off a mark of 64 over this course and distance last season before finishing 2nd on two further occasions off marks of 69 and 70 so this mark of 64 should mean he is well handicapped. Regular rider Andrew Mullen is on board and I expect him to run well back at this track.
