Horses To Avoid / Timeform / 04 July 2009 / Leave a comment

The ratings dons identify three horses you may want to swerve in the future.

Mark Usher's Calculating ran easily his best race of the year from out of the blue and 8 lb out of the handicap when second to Swinkeel at Kempton on Wednesday; and though he'll look thrown in if able to run off his proper mark before being reassessed his attitude makes him an unreliable betting proposition.

Sea Rover was probably flattered when winning by a wide margin at Haydock on Thursday. The son of Jade Robbery was well handicapped on his very best from his three-year-old career, but there was an element of opportunism about his victory, too, as he made the most of an enterprising ride, and he'll be vulnerable to say the least should the handicapper take a literal view of the margins involved; he doesn't always put his best foot forward, either.

Another winner who may struggle next time is Neo's Mate, who's win (at the tenth attempt) in a maiden at Catterick isn't easily explained, after showing so little for so long, adding weight to the belief that she might have been flattered in picking off the front runners.