RACING fan Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) picks out his best bet from Saturday's racing.
14:25 Musselburgh | ITV4
Musselburgh hosts a really good Easter weekend card and this race is named after the evergreen Borderlescott. Seven horses line up here and with a few veterans in the field the seven of them have ran in over 290 races between them so there aren't many secrets from the handicapper, but it doesn't make finding the winner any easier.
Keith Dalgleish is represented by Glenrowan Rose and she won twice last year in her 3 year old campaign. She is the least exposed of these and on her two previous visits to the track ran well. The yard is going well however others look better treated here and she may need this.
Paul Midgely sends three up here for the race and two look to have really good chances. Line of Reason won once from 15 starts last season but despite finding it tough to win he is consistent. He's fit from a stint in Dubai and although he is difficult to back with any confidence he should run well.
The one I like here is his stablemate Monsieur Joe. He's 10 years old now however last season he was as good as ever and managed to win twice.
He doesn't have the greatest of records first time out but he is the best horse in the race and the conditions of it suit well. He looks a solid win bet to me here.
15:00 Musselburgh | ITV4
The Royal Mile handicap is ran over a mile for 3 year olds and this is a good little race. Plenty of unexposed sorts line up and it should throw up plenty of future winners too. Many hold chances meaning there is value to be had and the one I like is a double figure price.
Novoman improved with every start last season and he looks like he will appreciate the extra distance he encounters here. His stable is in great form and he must have a great chance today but I think he's opposable. He only won once from six starts, and despite improving on each outing this is a very competitive race and he's not for me.
Mailshot is the most experienced of these with 12 starts to date however he is still unexposed. Like many Mark Johnston trained horses he thrives on racing and it's hard to tell how good he may be. He will have a fitness edge over his rivals but I suspect something may improve past him.
The one I do like is the Richard Fahey trained Society Red. The stable is going well and despite looking the second string on jockey bookings I think he will go very close.
He won on his debut so will be ready to do himself justice first time out and he progressed on his three further starts. He comes in off a light weight and is sure to stay this trip. I expect him to be ridden prominently and I've backed him each way here.
15:45 Kempton | ITV4
The Snowdrop Fillies Stakes is a Listed race over a mile, and although there are 10 runners I think there are a few here you can discount. It's always hard to know what to expect from fillies first time out but there is one I like at a decent price.
Laugh Aloud is well bred and looks really progressive. She was an impressive winner on her final start at Newmarket and that piece of form puts her ahead of anything else in the race.
I'm always wary when one piece of form sticks out and I can see reasons to oppose her. She didn't look a natural on the surface on debut and she seems best on quick turf so I will happily take her on.
Aljazzi won a Listed race last season and has Ryan Moore on board so she is bound to be popular in the market today. She ran in two decent races after her win without troubling the judge and she is another who may be flattered by a piece of form and is too risky a proposition for me.
The one I do like here is the Ralph Beckett inmate Desert Haze. She progressed throughout last season winning three times before ending the campaign with a second in a Listed race at Dundalk.
That shows she is effective on this surface and there are plenty of reasons to believe this well bred expensive purchase has more improvement left in her.
Best Bets
14:25 Musselburgh – Monsieur Joe to win (7/4 Betfair)
15:00 Musselburgh – Society Red each way (14/1 Stan James)
15:45 Kempton – Desert Haze to win (8/1 Bet365)
