Thursday, York, 15:00, Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap Tip: Back The Lost King @ 9/110.00
The Lost King produced the most stylish of victories last time at York and fully merits his rise of 6lb to take him to 102, but he travelled so well around the Knavesmire, I want to keep him on my side on Thursday.
Some very good handicappers were in behind, including the 100-rated Checkandchallenge in third and Cerulean Bay further back in eighth spot and both are in this race to make up some ground on the selection.
The top four in the betting are drawn in 8, 10, 17 and 15 and while he was drawn on the inside in four when winning over CD, he travels so well that wide should mean he'll just have to tuck in.
Oisin Murphy takes over from PJ McDonald, and Murphy for Balding at York holds a decent 40% placed record from 108 mounts at the track.
In terms of the ground, he has not been seen on soft and raced once on good to soft, and while the forecast could be kinder as rain is predicted early hours, the coverage was a little overblown on Wednesday with how soft the ground was.
Back The Lost King in the 15:00 at York
Thursday, York, 15:35, Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks Tip: Back Johanna Walsh @ 4/15.00
Joseph O'Brien has enjoyed a great season with his fillies and Johanna Walsh looks the best of the three-year-olds in receipt of weight from their elders in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Kalpana, the King George VI winner last time and Hardwicke second at Royal Ascot and deserves her price, but she has never raced at York and that stiff finish at Ascot really does suit her.
At the price and with Johanna Walsh improving and getting 9lbs, she produced a stunning 4L triumph in the Irish Oaks when last gracing the track.
And what a display.
She had four Aidan O'Brien fillies in front of her just before the turn - Beautify, Cameo, Sugar Island and Composing, and all with ratings 100+ and she toyed with them travelling beautifully into the race.
A typical Sea The Stars runner floating across quick ground, so hopefully Wednesday's showers and brief wet spell will dry out and again we might be playing forecast guessing games again.
It was quite a steady pace at the Curragh from a finish speed of 105% for the winner, but she wasn't hard pressed and recorded 11.91 at the end of the contest. With that speed, she'll possibly like York even more.
Back Johanna Walsh in the 15:35 at York
Thursday, York, 17:20, BF Fillies' Handicap Tip: Back Starlight Lass @ 5/23.50
Another filly and another with a decent turn of foot it seems, and it's hard to get away from John Gosden's Starlight Lass.
A very progressive filly, she built on her debut at Yarmouth earlier in the season when quite green, to win both of her subsequent starts to make all at Newmarket to win by almost 4L in a very messy race (finish speed a massive 115%) before a winning return at Yarmouth.
Again it was bloodless at Yarmouth under a penalty, although it was a nothing race against two rivals, one a rag, but she slammed a previous Doncaster winner with ease and showed another electric turn of foot.
From the family which includes some stayers, and Rab Havlin thought after her second win she'll be a 1m2f filly, she sticks to 7f and has got to be of interest from 87 for a handicap debut.
The mark could be letting her in very lightly here with the profile and while I doubt we will get any firm in the going description with the tricky forecast, I am hoping that turn of pace will not be blunted.
Back Starlight Lass in the 17:20 at York