Selections 26/09/2026

Another close call yesterday with Spaceman travelling the best when coming to win his race and though he hit the front in the last furlong, I suspect that the ground turning soft before the race just went against him. He is certainly one to keep an eye on.

The 28 runner Cambridgeshire is a tricky race but it has been good to me over the years and I like a couple in it today.

Wild Thoughts who won for us last week is an intriguing runner, he won 4 times by an aggregate 13.5 lengths in the spring over 7f to 1m and then after a good third in a hot race at Doncaster he won comfortably at Ayr over 10f. He travelled very well in that race and this big field scenario should suit.

His trainer, Richard Spencer is a master at producing them for these big handicaps and the 4lb rise for Ayr hopefully won't stop him going close.

At a bigger price the only Irish trained runner, Pierre Royal comes top on my figures courtesy of consistently high speed figures this summer including when 2nd in a 17 runner premier handicap at Galway off today's mark. This trip seems ideal for him and the big field set up suits his style.

Unfortunately we missed the ridiculous prices with the 66/1 on offer yesterday having been snaffled along with the 50s and 40s but 33/1 is still good value I think with 6 places on offer.

On to Ripon and it's tempting to think we missed the boat with Eye Of Dubai winning last week and so skip it today in the 15:28 at Ripon.

However, he still comes out top on of my figures and he is on the same mark as when winning this for the last 2 years so I believe the 9/2 on offer from Paddy Power is worth taking. Ripon suits his front running style and he won it last year on good so hopefully he will go in again.

Finally Trilby is always worth a look running at Haydock, we were just done by an improving 3yo last time and there are some 3yos in the field today but the form he is in currently (6th of 23 in the Ayr silver cup, 6f on Heavy probably being just a little too much plus he was on the wrong side) and that record of 2 wins and a 2nd over 5f at Haydock and 2 wins from 3 runs over 5f on heavy ground mean that even at 3/1 I am prepared to give him a chance off a mark only 1lb higher than when 2nd on his penultimate run.

Selections

Newmarket 15:40

• Wild Thoughts - 1pt ew @ 18/1 with Bet365 paying 6 places

• Pierre Royal - 1pt ew @ 33/1 with Bet365 paying 6 places

Ripon 15:28

• Eye of Dubai - 2 pts win @ 9/2 with Paddy Power

Haydock 14:10

• Trilby - 2pts win @ 3/1 with Bet365