The Neighsayers - Three For Saturday

The flat turf season has been very uninspiring so far and that feeling was enhanced by the viewing at Leicester today. If it was too wet for them to use starting stalls, should they really have been running? It was a front runners paradise and there was some wide margin wins, along with slow times which made it the eye-sore it was. @racing_lew is going to provide us with 3 for Saturday on the flat.

14:45 Yarmouth

Natzor, hailing from the Archie Watson yard who have started the official flat season on fire, they're 9-28 (32%) in the first two weeks of the flat season and that good form should continue here. On the dam side, there's not much to go on, as to whether he will act on the ground or not, he's by Almanzor who really is coming into his own a sire, he won on soft ground so we should be fine here. Watson has a positive record at Yarmouth, he's 10-53 all time (18.9), although only has an A/E of 0.79 here.

His debut was nice enough, he was prominent there which may stand him in good stead on tomorrow's soft ground. He was only given one behind the saddle and kept finding all the way home, just not having the pace of the front too. On that evidence he should handle the step up in trip here and have every chance of winning. The 2nd from that race has come out and won since too, so the form is developing substance.

Tempered Soul, hailing from the George Boughey stable is another with the benefit of a debut run, a solid enough 4th at Kempton. We actually heard for this horse that day and was sent there with every chance of winning but he never got into a position to strike and wasn't knocked about afterward. Much has been made of Boughey's campaigning of his horses, so I wouldn't like to be confident this lad will be off tomorrow, nor would I be overly confident of him handling a step up in trip this early in his career.

The main bit of form coming into this race, is from Lingfield at the end of March. Dasho Lennie wasn't stopping at the finish but can he cope with the penalty on this ground, I'm not sure, even with Harry Davies' claim. Also from that race, were Charlie's Choice (3rd) and All That Glitters (4th) but neither of them should be good enough, nor step forward enough to trouble the market principles.

Newcomers Rogue Sea and Cresta Cat both have nice pages, but without the inside knowledge I wouldn't be confident with them making a winning start.

Selection - Natzor 5/2 Bet 365, 9/4 General

3:20 Yarmouth

Faustus is one of two saddled for the Robert Cowell team, along with the early market favourite Angle Land. Faustus is a horse that runs well fresh, particularly last year where he won on reappearance off a 1lb higher mark. He was then highly tried all year in class 2 and 3 company, including a few reappearances in the Racing League. Tomorrow will be the first time he drops into class 4 company since winning on comeback last year.

He's another one who likes to race prominently, and for the most part, he's the only one who does, so much like Naztor, the others may struggle to eat into the advantage on the ground. Spoof would be a danger here for me, running well for a very, very long way into the trip during The Lincoln weekend before being collared close home and if he has come forward for that, he could be the one to bridge the gap.

Cowell's other runner Angle Land is definitely more of an AW horse these days and disappointed first time up on turf last year. so I'd be inclined to take her on, especially with Turner in the saddle. She may turn this into a tactical affair, hopefully to benefit Faustus.

A small shout to Libra Tiger, who comes here fit, likes soft ground and of course, the boy wonder is booked so that have to insinuate they're going for it, but like all of Loughnane's rides, it's probably a few points shorter than what it should be.

Selection - Faustus 6/1 Bet 365. 4/1 General

5:30 Wolverhampton

A very weak opening handicap, but one I found easy enough to solve. Ma Famille is my idea of the winner here and she disappointed back on turf and up in trip last time out, so it's no surprise that they've come back to the AW and back down to the minimum distance. In her 2 starts over 5f on the AW, she's placed 2nd and 3rd and given how lightly raced she is, there's every chance she improves now handicapping. She is top weight here but that doesn't concern me, as I think she's got the most upside potential.

She looks to be one of the only runners here who would possibly go forward, although I'm not naive enough to take all maiden/novice form for what it is, as most of these will have been non-jiggers. However Ma Famillie looked to have been off in all her novice events and beat horses rated well in their 60's (rating, not age). So a mark of 54 should just really be basement for me and should win this with consummate ease.

Holly Blackmore would be the one I'd be most fearful of, but she's looked in need of 6 furlongs so that's one to keep an eye on in time.

Selection - Ma Famille 11/4 Bet365. Betfair, Paddy Power, 5/2 General