George to kick start massive week on winning note.

An excellent week for Somerville Lodge in the lead up to the big June Festivals ended in great style at Carlisle. Two winners from our 3 bets and place money returned on the other. Opportunity will head to Royal Ascot for the Duke of Edinburgh and Realign the Wokingham if the ground is not fast.

Princling was as I half anticipated not quick enough over the 8f trip and will be a force to be reckoned with over 10f. He is highly rated and his mark of 87 will be unchanged, which will not be high enough for Royal Ascot but it wouldn’t surprise me if his campaign ended up with a tilt at the Cambridgeshire. His inexperience was evident on Saturday and he did well to finish 4th – he is without doubt still a horse to follow.

This week starts off with a single runner at Thirsk on Sunday with the George Waud owned filly Thaluna, in the handicap that closes the card at 18.45

George is of course the owner of the yards Derby contender Maltese Cross and the filly has every chance of giving him a good start in what is a competitive fillies handicap.

George is having a stellar spring with Classic Encounter trained by George Boughey winning at Redcar last week. He is remarkably successful as an owner over the past 4 seasons his horses have ran in 77 races winning 19 of them with a further 25 placed 2,3,4.

Thaluna was eye catching on her debut at Newmarket in April. She looked badly in need of the run that afternoon and I thought was going to be given an easy time when outpaced at half way, but she picked up really well under hands and heels riding from Tom Marquand. After his fall on Thursday, although fit to ride on Saturday Tom has a day off on Sunday.

It is very significant that Daniel Tudhope has been booked for his first ever ride for George Waud. Tudhope reins supreme at Thirsk, he is the leading rider at the track over the last 5 years with a 23% strike rate.

The stats of the owner and jockey are matched by the yard who have won with 4 of the 11 3yo’s to contest handicaps at the track over the pat 5 years.

The price of 9/2 gives us the opportunity to take the offer of 4 places ew from Bet 365 and William Hill with the top form Krissy and the unbeaten Bintaziza obvious dangers.

Recommended Bet 0.5pt EW Thaluna 1-4 places 18.45 Thirsk