Away from the limelight on Saturday

The William Haggas team have 8 runners on Saturday and one of there best chance of success is with Maelstrom in the days most valuable contest the Macmillon Sprint at 3.35, ridden by Adam Farrager

This is annually one of the most competitive 3yo sprint handicaps of the season, and the yard also run Showering who looks to have it all to do.

I have to say I am slightly bemused that Cieren Fallon is going to Chester instead of taking the ride on Maelstrom.(more on that later). Also in the race and I am of course loathe to move away from him is Double Rush who landed a nice touch for us at Newmarket.

Unlike the sprints at the Dante meeting unless a horse comes from the yard of Tim Easterby the race is dominated by Southern yards.

Double Rush will likely go off a well backed favourite with Shane Foley taking over from Jason Watson but Charlie Hills horses are back to running like they did last season without any consistency and having been to to the wedding I don’t want to go to the funeral. Equally though , i would hate to lose on the race if Double Rush does oblige so will take a watching brief.

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Tom Marquand goes to Sandown for 3 rides with Crown Imperial looking the best chance of giving him the confidence boost he needs in the 3.50. However the unraced Klassleader also trained by Haggas makes his debut ridden by Ryan Moore !!

17 runners round the bend and up the Sandown hill is hardly a recipe for a big bet and along with the yards other two at the track Take a Breath in the 5.00 and Russian Crescendo in the 5.35 i wont be backing any of them.

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Onto Chester, and in the 2.45 I think the bookies have mixed up Castle Cove with Economics on seasonal debut. The 4 year old is drawn in the car park in stall 13 and the form he showed last year suggests he has to improve at least 5lb to feature here even from a good draw, and yet he is 7/2 favourite!

It maybe that he is best fresh but the risks are massive and i am more than happy to leave him alone.

I really wanted to back Molten Sea in the 3.55 despite her needing to continue her upward spiral and improve again following her victory at Nottingham. That is likely to happen on this tight 2 miles around the Roodeye

However the make up of the race means i wont back her. She is drawn wide in stall 8 with the other confirmed pace setter in 5. If one of the 4 drawn inside decides to join them in the front rank, Molten Sea will be running three deep or have to go too fast too soon in order to get to the front.

I expect she will be around 5/2 and given that likely pace scenario she is not a bet for me.

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It has been a frustrating week where our selections have been by and large smashed up in the betting but not delivered in their races. Its not disastrous as we have had limited bets but i am very confident we can end it on a high note and set ourselves up for Royal Ascot with a 3pt win bet on Kisskodi in the 7.20 Leicester.

Jim Crowley comes here rather than ride at the big Saturday cards principally to ride this rapidly improving sprinter. Crowley has only ridden 8 horses in handicaps for trainer Harry Eustace 3 have won and 2 have been runner up.

Kisskodi is 9lb higher following a very easy win at Brighton which followed his run at Haydock which he should have won by 2 or 3L. However his jockey got caught napping and was mugged on the line despite finishing 8L clear of the rest. That run suggested Kisskodi has at least 14lb in hand of the handicapper a fact confirmed by the ease of his win at Brighton and the 9lb rise looks nowhere near enough to stop him following up.

The Harry Eustace team is in good form although unlucky with Docklands who should have won at Epsom last Saturday. Small compensation awaits this weekend and Kisskodi well drawn in stall 5 will get an ideal toe into the race from the front running General Assembly in stall 3 and i fully expect the gelding to collect from our only bet on Saturday.

However, i do anticipate a couple of bets Sunday – which i will post Saturday afternoon.

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Diary of a Season Sat Bet 3pt win Kisskodi 7.20 Leicester.