Last chance for Johnston runner to redeem himself
14:20 Newbury - Back Communique @ 5/1 Sportsbook price
I've been sucked in again with Communique - and he gets one more chance to redeem himself following a poor effort at Sandown last time.
He ran no sort of race behind Dubai Horizon at the Esher track earlier in the month. Maybe he resented the softer ground as he didn't go a yard in the early part of the contest. He looked as though he raced lazily too.
I would also throw in the hold-up tactics at Sandown as a negative. Hopefully the champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa will kick him on today.
Communique looked a potential Group-class horse earlier in the season, so I won't give up on him just yet for this Newbury handicap from a mark of 103. He is also worth another crack at the 1m4f he faces today.
Hopefully the ground stays on the quick-ish side.
Sprinter a tasty price for success in Scotland
15:35 Ayr - Back Intense Romance @ 10.09/1
Over to Ayr we go for day two of the Gold Cup meeting, and the testing conditions should play to the strengths of Michael Dods' in-form filly Intense Romance.
I like her no-nonsense attitude and she seems to love the mud. She posted a personal best in a good handicap last time at Haydock to win easily - crucially in heavy ground. She won that in the style of horse that is well worth her place in today's Listed company.
And this doesn't appear to be the strongest of affairs looking at some of the ratings. It's high on numbers, but there are several we can put a line through easily.
Her previous second behind Global Applause looks pretty good now, and I expect her to sit handy or make the pace despite the large field. Intense Romance also has winning form at Ayr - and she travelled quite strongly at the track to win in July 2017.
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