On Channel 4 this week, there's Group 1 action in the form of the Sprint Cup and big handicaps at Haydock, Kempton and Ascot
The race of the day is the Sprint Cup at Haydock and it looks as though the ground is going to be on the easy side after another wet week.
Twilight Son at 9/1 is a possible future star of the sprinting division coming here with a profile of four runs and four wins.
He won a good handicap last time out at York, will enjoy the underfoot conditions and has plenty of improvement left in him.
But he still has to prove he is up to Group 1 class and winning this after an 84-day break will not be easy.
Mattmu at 8/1 is probably the most each-way play.
He has only been out of the first three once in 14 starts and his latest effort, when third over a trip slightly short of his best in the Nunthorpe Stakes, has to rate as a career best.
He has been beaten in four of his five starts this year, though, so could just be vulnerable to one or two at the finish.
On that basis, it is worth having a punt on last year’s winner, G Force.
This bet takes a slight leap of faith as he comes here with form figures of 800 this season.
However, he was badly hampered and ran as if still in-form on his seasonal debut here at Haydock before running very poorly on lightning fast ground at Royal Ascot.
His only run over his optimum trip of 6f was at Newmarket in the July Cup when again the ground was too fast.
He didn’t show too much on that occasion but he’s run well on his two visits to Haydock and the ground will be absolutely spot on.
This year’s race doesn’t look as strong as last year’s and if he retains all his ability he should be a good win only bet at 12/1.
Gabrial can be Star of the show in Old Borough Cup
The big betting race of the day is the Old Borough Cup and it is a shame that the chance of Battersea (7/1) looks as though it will be compromised by the ground.
He has had no luck at all this season when it comes to getting his preferred fast ground and he would have been a confident bet had the ground remained fast this week.
The rain this week was also against well-fancied 8/1 shot Pressure Point, which means backers of favourite High Secret will be confident of a big run with that horse well-proven in softer conditions.
He hasn’t looked short of stamina, though, so a drop back in trip isn’t guaranteed to be a positive step.
But 6/1 isn’t a bad price for a horse proven in the ground, especial when several of his rivals aren’t.
Blue Wave at 9/1 is arguably overpriced for Mark Johnston, who has won this race three times in the last decade.
He didn’t look happy at Chester last time out, but ran well and he has been lightly-raced this campaign.
In that same Chester race, though, Gabrial’s Star looked unlucky in running and although his best efforts have come at that venue this season, he has run well twice over this course and distance.
He is the value call at 10/1.
Get into the winning Spirit at Kempton
Early Morning and Spirit Raiser are likely to be two of the more-fancied sorts in the London Mile Final at Kempton and it is worth noting the pair have met before in June over course and distance.
On that occasion, Spirit Raiser beat Early Morning by a neck in receipt of 5lbs.
Spirit Raiser now gets 6lbs from that rival and, although that means things should be close between the pair again, it is Spirit Raiser who is weighted to come out on top in that head-to-head.
Spirit Raiser also seemed to improve for the fitting of a visor last time out so could have even more in hand this time out.
It is not a two-horse race, however. Anya is interesting but hasn’t run for 10 weeks while Mutawathea, a reliable sort at this venue, is drawn very wide.
Second place special: Betway will refund losing bets on selected races up to £25 if your horse finishes second and is beaten by less than a length. Terms and conditions apply.