Betfair Official Blog

Lady and Girl to feature in A8

Worldwide Lady (T5) and Girl Alone (T6) look the females worth keeping on the right side in Romford's opening A8 contest run over 400 metres and due underway at 19:30.

Extreme Power (T1), formerly an A8 grader at best when based at Walthamstow, has struggled to hit the target since joining current connections. Martyn Wiley's railer is currently without a win in her last 14 outings, and is best opposed in her current mood.

Mayview Trixie (T2) would be a shorter price if this race had been run in February. Paul Young's contender posted a sizzling 24.93 on that occasion, and is well treated if able to reproduce a similar level of all-round pace.

Snorbans Louie (T3) is expected to strain every sinew in a bid to reach the corner on the bunny, but may fall short in this company. Dave Mullins' lightly campaigned maiden will need to get everything right to avoid the traffic problems, and is probably best watched for the moment.

Arona Rock (T4) is better known as a stayer nowadays, and is set to race for the first time over four bends for nearly two years. Martyn Wiley's old boy looks likely to be playing catch-up from the opening turn, and appears to have plenty to find.

Worldwide Lady (T5) is set to have her first race for nearly six months, but still looks capable of making an impact. Alison Ingram's individual should be challenging Girl Alone (T6) for early supremacy, and the pair may well dominate the entire contest.

Girl Alone (T6) is blessed with natural early pace, and should clear Worldwide Lady (T5) to the turn. Paul Young's pup has nothing to find on the clock, and looks the most likely winner.

'Valid' and 'Groovy' worth a nibble in A5

Valid Point (T2) and Nobbys Fortune (T3) appear to pair to concentrate on in the A5 contest run over 400 metres and due underway at 20:53.

Ballypierce Maid (T1) has had few problems in landing A7 and A6 events, but has hit a brick wall when faced with this A5 grade in the past. Although Alison Ingram's candidate is expected to start a leading fancy judged on the tissue prices, the slow-starting old hand is still without a success at this level after 11 bites of the cherry, and looks worth opposing.

Valid Point (T2) is still winless at the grade after three attempts, but boasts more potential than most of his rivals. Dave Mullins' challenger caught clock watchers' eyes when storming to victory in 24.76 last month, and a reproduction of that superb effort would give the fawn dog a fine opportunity.

Nobbys Fortune (T3) is set to have his first outing for around four months, having taken a crashing fall in his last race in A4 company. However, Peter Payne's tough war horse looks up to the task, having posted a superb 24.54 on his penultimate outing in January. A reproduction of that wonderful effort would make him, dare we say it, a certainty in this contest.

Groovy Ellen (T4) looks a certainty - not necessarily to win, but to be making the running as the lids crash open. Maggie Lucas' individual boasts a two from three winning record at the grade, and enters calculations if fit for her reappearance.

Remember Duke (T5), a lightly raced maiden following three career starts, should win his share of races in due course. However, the clock does not lie, and Alison Ingram's contestant appears to have a mountain to climb.

Black Wand (T6) has unfortunately finished lame in two of his last five races, and cannot be flagged up with confidence. With Peter Payne's charge having only his second start in four months, layers are expected to relish the opportunity to take on the fragile individual.

'Placid' and 'Baggy' for cash in A3

Placid Jack (T2) and Baggy Trousers (T3) are flagged up in the A3 contest run over 400 metres and due underway at 21:25.

Bigboydidit (T1) gave a hint at a return to form when clocking a respectable 24.81 in last week's trial. However, Jim Reynolds' candidate appears to need further nowadays, having won twice over eight bends in March, and is expected to struggle to stay with the strong front-runners.

Placid Jack (T2) comes here in sparkling form, having landed two of his last three races, and has been sent off favourite in six of his last seven outings. Jim Reynolds' individual boasts pace to burn, and is the fastest in the field on the clock.

Baggy Trousers (T3) is expected to mount a serious challenge to Placid Jack (T2) for first-bend supremacy. Martin Wiley's old stager has not lost any of his enthusiasm for the game, and will not be far away.

Bitofabuzz (T4) looked in fine fettle when landing an Open over the distance in March. However, Maxine Locke's contestant has been leaving his trapping boots at home in recent weeks, and is expected to be outpaced at the corner.

Ballymac Pascal (T5) is the dark horse. Paul Young's representative has started at big prices in his last three races in Open company, but looks to face a much easier task on paper. Backers are advised to scan the pre-race market in search of positive moves.

Though The Bars (T6) is a peppy customer in the early exchanges when in the right mood, and should be in the firing line. However, with Paul Young's challenger currently on a 19-race losing run, backers are likely to run a mile.