Good morning all,

It’s a strange old day of racing today, with the action split into morning and evening sessions. This is, of course, so there’s no racing during the Duke Of Edinburgh’s funeral this afternoon. 

I’ve decided to look at Brighton’s evening card. I do like a bit of Brighton and look forward to my visits to the track, especially if I can tie it in with an evening at Hove Greyhounds, or a trip to nearby Fontwell the next day. It’s cheap and cheerful racing, although the name of course regular Roy Rocket is going to be absent from the roll-call of Brighton winners this year. He will be sadly missed by us all. 

Anyway, here’s four races to try a Lucky 15 on, or a yankee, or perm patents, or whatever takes your fancy really!

6.00 Brighton – 7f Handicap

Blame Culture is going to give this a good go from the front, you feel, but Rectory Road likes to go forward as well, and they might set it up for a finisher. 

Baltic Prince has a good record at the track and is respected, but he’s not the only one, and maybe the first-time visor and a return to Brighton might be the catalyst for a better effort from De Little Engine tonight. 

He won this two years ago and is following much the same pattern this time around, having had a run (over a trip too far) at Wolverhampton last week,one that should put him spot on for this. He’s often gone well when turned around quickly, and is a twice a winner at the track (placed on two other occasions too). Ground won’t be an issue, he’s on a winning mark, and had plenty going for him at the price. 

6.30 – 7f Handicap

At 6f, I think I’d have been with Tin Hat, who is probably slightly better class than this and the yard have won this race before, but he’s yet to win at 7f and has only been placed once at the trip, and that’s enough to make me look elsewhere. 

Fred’s been a bit out of form on his last two starts but that’s rarely a worry with a Mark Johnston runner, as they often bounce back after bad runs, and it’s not hard to see Franny Norton try and make all. But I’ll chance De Vegas Kid, who has only been out of the money on one of his seven starts here, and simply loves quick ground. He’s now back on his last winning mark and even with the small field, there should be pace on (Cobra Eye nearly always leads) which helps his hold-up style, and he can pick them off late. 

7.00 – 1m Handicap

Rated just 42, React must be one of the lowest rated horses Roger Varian has ever had, I’d say. Well bred but he’s shown very little in four starts, including on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton where he faded out of things a bit too quickly for comfort. You’re basically taking 4-1 that he’s going to improve a chunk and leave his form behind, and maybe the drop back to 1m will do the trick, but he’s clearly risky. 

Hooves Like Jagger is getting the message and Tony Carroll will exploit his falling mark sooner rather than later, but Bahia Star looks a potential improver this year and in the hope she's ready to go first time up, gets my vote. There’s been winners from the Newmarket maiden she contested last July and even more from the Lingfield one she ran in on her final start of last year, and a mark of 62 looks more than workable. There aren’t many better trainers with the fairer sex than Rae Guest and if she can’t win races this season, I’ll be amazed. 

7.30 – 1m Handicap

Some old favourites in here, none more so than Pour La Victoire who enjoys his days at the seaside and is a ten-times winner at the track. He could very well make it 11, as he’s well drawn (over a mile, high draws are much preferred) and comes here in form after a close second at Lingfield. 

Rhyme Scheme is going to try and make all, but he’s still a maiden at 14 starts and is looking hard to win with. Saucy Encore is a very similar sort, she has the form to take a hand but has yet to score after 16 starts and so it’s to Hedging I turn. He’s a three time winner at the track and may well have been laid out for this, having won fresh at this meeting back in 2018. His overall record after a 100+ day break reads 4103, so this might be the time to catch him. Back on a winning mark and I like his chances from a decent draw. 

Today's selection – De Little Engine 6.00 Brighton

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Good luck with all your bets today,

David.