PADDOCKS PATENT (FRIDAY)

14:35 Lingfield

The 2:35 at Lingfield over the minimum trip will be an absolute smash up for the line which could leave the held up Burnt Cream with an excellent opportunity to repeat his course and distance success of last week. The excellent Rob Havlin takes the ride and if those up front set the race up then the in form mare could win again. However, the horse must be waited with to perfection and although the draw is in his favour there is a 4lb penalty for a head success here last time. That ride was an absolute peach out and at early odds of 4/1 I think this could be a good run to be beat recent winners Swendab and Spray Tan. The main danger will come from the latter I suspect with Luke Morris seemingly able to steer a one wheel child’s tricycle around here at the minute.

Burnt Cream (E/W)

15:20 Doncaster

Ergo Sum is a course and distance winner at this track back in November of last year and looks a likely type to run a big race at the Yorkshire track in the 3:20 class 4 handicap. The underrated (but not for much longer) Nico De Boinville takes the reins here and the 3lb taken off could be a crucial help in maintaining the winning run. There are notable dangers in the race in the shape of Rear Admiral and Big George with the latter providing the biggest concern. The weight lumped on to the former could be that horse’s undoing and his easy tiring last time costing him dear. The latter is a prohibitive price at 6/4 for the outright win, although he may go in it’s not the sort of price I would be interested in. Ergo Sum doesn’t have the smallest weight on his back but should run a big race at 4/1 on his favoured ground.

Ergo Sum (E/W if 4/1+)

16:05 Huntingdon

It is worth noting that Richard Johnson has only two rides at Huntingdon on Friday and he sticks around for the 4:05 handicap chase over the 2.5 mile distance for St John’s Point. You get the feeling he may be on one who could be a huge improver. He has only one leg-up earlier in the day and that is for his mother on a pretty poor horse who you would have to feel is a family favour. The Selection runs here off the back of a win and three excellent runs prior to that where he hit the frame, one of which he won. St. John’s Point has also ran well on this ground and you get the feeling that ‘Dicky’ is sticking around for a good thing. He will probably go off the favourite and forecasts of 11/4 look pretty generous given the previous efforts. My main concern here is Cyclop who Sam Twiston-Davies rides for David Dennis. The form is also in the book but the improvement available in St John’s Point will hopefully see the selection home

St Johns Point (E/W if 5/1+)