3.45 Chepstow: Class 6 Handicap, 6f

If Em Jay Kay could return to the form he showed at Newmarket in May he should be too good for this field. He chased home a strong winner, who had the benefit of the rail as well, in a much hotter race than this today.

One has draw a line through the latest effort at Nottingham, though. Em Jay Kay tends to swerve to his right once the gates open, and he got quickly behind, not helped my rivals, and also a draw that’s often a disadvantage over this CD when the race develops eventually on the stands’ side.

He made some nice progress mid-race, on the other hand, suggesting the form is still there. He simply couldn’t keep it up, but then nobody could do that from the lower stalls in that race.

Em Jay Kay remains lightly raced on turf but has got two 2nd places from three turf runs to his name now. The track and fast ground is a slight question mark, whether that’s his thing we’ll find out today.

The 3lb claim of Grace McEntee is a bonus, though. She can just sit tight, utilise the natural speed Em Jay Kay possesses, float down the hill and should have too much in hand, if the gelding handles the conditions.

10pts win – Em Jay Kay @ 4/1

…….

5.55 Bath: Class 6 Handicap, 5.5f

Rothay Park drops in trip and that’s highly intriguing after two most recent effort that suggested he could benefit from moving down.

He showed nice early speed, after slightly awkward starts, especially last time out at Salisbury, and travelled keenly and with enthusiasm, but didn’t get home over 7- and 7-5f respectively.

Especially his most recent performance was noteworthy, as he overcame the widest draw, an awkward start, and then moved quickly forward to push the pace, before kicking on from 3 furlongs out. He managed to hold on for 2nd, which was huge in the context.

Rothay Park remains on the same mark, and is lightly raced enough to suggest the penny may have dropped recently, and over the right trip he can win and be a bit better than 65.

His full-sister was two-times course and distance winner on fast ground here as well. So that adds to his chances.

10pts win – Rothay Park @ 5/1

…….

7.30 Bath: Class 6 Handicap, 5f

Betweenthesticks continues to drop in grade and this looks a race for the taking. The gelding isn’t a frequent winner but has shown he’s probably in pretty decent form right now, especially judged on his first two runs this year, back in May at Windsor and in early July at Ripon.

One has to be forgiving, though, given his most recent outing was a disappointing 10/10 finish. Although with excuses. Possibly the race came a bit too soon after that huge Ripon run only 5 days earlier. He was also caught very wide chasing the hot pace, which was basically a death sentence.

Prior at Ripon Betweenthesticks had to settle for 2nd place behind a well-handicapped winner, but he came clear of the rest and showed nice early speed and good attitude.

Whereas he probably needed the run at Windsor in May, and over 6 furlongs, not his optimum, he still ran seriously well off a wide draw having to travel wide behind the pace – again, not ideal at that CD.

He’s down to a mark of 66, ran to a 65 speed rating at Ripon, 4x to 67 speed ratings last season and is obviously not far off that form that saw him placed six times of higher marks.

Although Betweenthesticks has only won on soft on turf, his career-best came on fast ground at Salisbury last season, hence I think today represents an ideal opportunity to score.

10pts win – Betweenthesticks @ 4/1