Owing to today being a Bank Holiday in Ireland, we have two meetings on these shores this afternoon and I'm headed to Galway for a tricky Flat card where conditions are sure to be testing.
I was minded to put up just one bet today but after much deliberation, I can't resist a very small play on SILVERTOWN who is too big at 40/1 for the Kone Handicap (1.55).
You have to be prepared to forgive a couple of below-par efforts the last twice but he has been given two months off since and if you look back to the form of his course and distance fourth on soft ground at the Galway Festival in early August, there is plenty of upside to him.
Had it not been for a sluggish start that day, he might well have gone close to winning and given his sire, Make Believe, tend to produce progeny who handle testing ground very well, and the fact he has bagged stall number one, I'd be hopeful he can at least make his presence felt.
Furthermore, I do think this horse is best fresh - he was a good winner at Tipperary on his seasonal reappearance this year - and I'm hoping that returning from a decent break sees him back in the sort of form that would easily allow him to make his mark here. With most firms paying four places, I can't resist a bet at 40/1.
Later on the card, Cerberus will be all the rage for the We Are In This Together Galway Handicap (4.15) and given the strength of his hurdles form and a good run on the level at Navan last month, it's easy to see why.
However, it is worth remembering that he was beaten in this race last year and that he threw away a Grade One over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival as recently at February. He looks short enough at around 11/8 and with plenty of firms again paying four places, I'm keen to take a chance on SASTA.
This three-year-old filly was a really impressive winner when staying-on strongly to win over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park two starts back before again running with credit when dropped back to a mile at Navan next time.
To my eyes, she looks to stay really well and actually ran with credit when fourth over today's 1m4f trip at Leopardstown earlier in the summer. I think she's definitely worth another crack at this distance, particularly with the Jim Bolger stable in much better form now, and underfoot conditions seemingly ideal for her.
She's too big at 9/1 and fingers crossed Bolger and Kevin Manning can have another winner following Mac Swiney's gritty victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.
Bolger keeps finding that diamond from somewhere and Manning - a veteran of the Weighing Room now - proves that age really is just a number.
I remember him well from my riding days. He started before me and is still going strong at 53-years-of-age, letting his riding do the talking year after year. He never got the credit he deserved for his ride on New Approach in the 2008 Derby, a ride that in my opinion was one of the best we've ever seen in an Epsom Derby.
One of the strongest riders I've ridden against in a finish - and he really is in elite company there - Manning was an animal when it got tight and continues to prove a credit to himself and his profession.
Posted at 1140 BST on 2610/20
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