3 minute read

Sam King brings you two selections on Monday, including an eye-catching jockey booking at Windsor…

No Retreat – Windsor 6.25

James Doyle travels to Windsor for just one ride this evening and with a healthy 19% strike rate there over the last five years, No Retreat requires maximum consideration. The Roger Varian-trained colt was sent off a well-backed 5/6 favourite to make a winning debut at Newcastle in June and although punters failed to collect on that occasion, he left the impression a next-time-out success could be on the cards when shaping full of promise back in third.

The front two home that day are now rated 92 and 84 respectively, giving the form some substance, and you'd have to expect him to have improved physically and mentally over the last few months. He's likely had a setback having been a non-runner (self-cert) at Yarmouth in April, but that might just be a blessing in disguise and with the step up to a mile and a quarter likely to suit, I'm anticipating this well-bred son of Siyouni to start making up for lost time.

Odds – 7/4

Caledonian – Yarmouth 5.40

We head to Yarmouth for our second selection and I'm looking forward to seeing what Caledonian can do after an eye-catching debut. David Simcock's gelding went straight into my notebook before he'd even crossed the line on debut at Newbury. He lost all chance of winning when hampered badly at the two-furlong pole but travelled in the style of an above-average prospect for much of the seven-furlong maiden. The son of Sottsass was virtually the last horse on the bridle before staying on nicely under hands and heels and it looks interesting that Jamie Spencer, who rode him on debut, heads the Yarmouth for just the one ride.

The James Fanshawe-trained Back In Black should help make the market and with 3/1 freely available, Caledonian looks like the value play.

Odds – 3/1