4:28 Salisbury

Tip 1: Pierian - 1pt

Best odds of 9/4 at bet365 while publishing.

Alma Latina, Take A View and PIERIAN (best priced at 9/4) all made encouraging debuts within the past month but preference goes to the latter who arguably could have won under a more vigorous ride. The William Haggas trained filly is extremely well bred being out of Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens, who is also a sister to Nathaniel, who has produced seven winners from her other seven progeny to reach the racecourse.

Pierian pulled 4 ¼ lengths clear with stablemate Sea The Storm, who finished 5th in the Group 2 Musidora Stakes yesterday, despite being slowly away and having to make up a lot of ground late on. With the benefit of that run, I expect her to get off the mark at the second attempt.

2:55 York

Tip 2: Point Of Contact - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 10/1 while publishing.

Point Lynas - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 16/1 while publishing.

The Hambleton Handicap is always a competitive contest and I am going to chance two horses with very differing profiles. The first is POINT OF CONTACT (best priced at 12/1) who is extremely unexposed and sneaks into the race at the bottom of the weights. The Andrew Balding trained four-year-old had some strong novice form last season including when 2nd in a novice race under a penalty at this meeting behind the 104 rated Bowmark. He wasn’t beaten far in his four starts in handicaps including when only beaten 1 ¼ lengths over this course and distance off this mark of 87 and he now returns from a 243 day break having been gelded.

The other is POINT LYNAS (best priced at 16/1) who is a standing dish in this race. The Ed Bethell trained seven-year-old has form figures of 2221 over this course and distance in his career with a head 2nd in 2023 off a mark of 93 and a victory in 2024 off a mark of 100 in this race. The topweight needs to defy a rating of 109 this year but this will have no doubt been his early season target and he should outrun his odds.