Brighton Friday 28th May

The sun will have his hat on at last, and there are not many finer places when the weather is pleasant, than Brighton racecourse, up on high, overlooking the English Channel and with the hills behind in the other direction.

Tomorrow’s afternoon card will be an even finer occasion that normal, with WhichBookie sponsoring the full eight race card – and as such, here is a rundown of all eight races and a few selections.

1.45:

A competitive looking start to the card, with this 5½ furlong maiden, and while your eye is drawn to the once-raced Roger Varian-trained Super Cub, the current best price of 7/4 makes little appeal. George Boughey’s Bolton Abbey could be better back on decent ground, and Buying Time and Hatsheput are newcomers to respect.

2.20:

The best race on the card is this 0-85 6f sprint handicap, and without doubt the most interesting horse in the race is Typhoon Ten, after his two recent third place finishes. But with the ground likely to be tightening all the time, he isn’t guaranteed to be able to get his toe in as much as he would like.

2.50:

The feature of this 1m handicap could potentially be the likely strong pace, as no fewer than seven of this field have previously shown an inclination to force it. That could all play into the hands of Rosa Gold, who has been competing in better grades than this, and just not quite having things run to suit. Trouble is, many have spotted that already, and the early price vultures have forced her into a best priced 4/1 already. If she were to drift back out somewhat on Friday morning, then she would look a decent each-way selection.

3.25:

A tricky looking 0-55 1m2f handicap in which Global Style, Sonnetina and Junoesque look the three to concentrate on, and they are installed as the front three in the market, so not much leeway for a bet here.

3.55:

The second division of the 3.25, and again a trappy affair. The two that I thought were of most interest were course winner Dawn View and also Dancing Jo, but they both have to prove they stay. Charles Bishop might be able to dictate from the front on Dancing Jo, and make it a speed test, but it’s hard to say for sure.

4.30:

The first selection runs in this 1m4f handicap, in the shape of Sheena West’s Cherry Cola, who at 6/1 across the board is a solid each-way bet to back up the impression that she is running herself into form after three starts since a wind operation. She rattled off a hat-trick in the summer of 2019, and is back in arguably better form now on the figures of her last run. Dropped back in trip from the 1m6f at Yarmouth last time, she has much better chance than 6/1 suggests.

5.00:

A wide open affair – Riva’s Rob Roy possibly the one to beat, but he’s not guaranteed to get the same fast pace to chase that he did here 10 days ago.

5.30:

The other bet on the card for me is in the closing 6f handicap, and it is a rare win only bet on a favourite, but such are the obvious claims of Carbon Positive at 9/4 with bet365, that it is hard to turn that price away. I feel he could and perhaps should be nearer the 5/4 mark. Three of the field at Nottingham, when Carbon Positive was a resolute fourth in a higher grade just over a month ago, have won on their next start or had won on their previous start. The speed figure that Carbon Positive clocked that day is also way beyond the level any of his opposition have shown to date.