Ehtiraas and Marbooh are strongly-fancied to give prolific, leading owner, Hamdan al Maktoum, a double in divisions of the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of 'good' ground Salisbury today; they are trained, respectively, by Oliver Burrows and Charles Hills at Lambourn.
Obviously Burrows will be feeling disappointment of a moderate effort by Massaat in the Epsom Derby last Saturday but this 'rookie' trainer, formerly assistant to Sir Michael Stoute for twelve years, needs to put that behind him and focus on what is possible and not regrets which, incidentally, are pointless.
After watching the England soccer 'friendlies' this past week manager Roy Hodgson will also suffer, he's assembled an 'iffy' squad and it simply wont be good enough to seriously, challenge in the Euro Championships, due to get under way next weekend. His decision to kick out Leicester City talisman, Danny Drinkwater, will probably haunt him.
Wayne Rooney, Jack Wiltshire and Daniel Sturridge have spent several weeks/months on the sidelines with injuries but are included; the buck stops at you Roy!
Anyway we digress but for serious betting purposes you're hopefully dissuaded from risking 'ard earned' on England for a tournament which should be captivating unless there are riots and political problems in France; fingers crossed they wont happen.
Twice-raced Ehtiraas is clear 'best-in' for division one and, hopefully, Paul Hanagan will be positive, thus sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
Recent losses will be recouped if that's the case and Marbooh, fifth on debut last month, beaten less than two lengths, is 'expected' in the other fourteen-runner 'leg' and justifies support; they will comprise my each-way double!
Stoute could supplement 'our' gains with twice-raced Alyday, one of thirteen 'dec's for a three-year-old Maiden Stakes over an extended seven furlongs of 'good to soft' Lingfield tonight, when racegoers are catered for with a 'mixed' meeting of seven races, three of them on polytrack. Not a menu of my choice!
Ryan Moore rides Alyday!
SELECTIONS
9.45 Ehtiraasl
11.15 Marbooh
3.20 Alyday