Morning all,

Yesterday’s selection Treacherous ran an ok sort of race to finish 5^th at Windsor. Although he never looked like he was going to competitive. There will be other days for the 8-year-old who becoming nicely handicapped. The yard has been quiet but once they are in the winning form he can pop up.

Inside today’s main piece I have a couple that caught my eye on Saturday. Plus, I take a look at this afternoon's Norfolk National at Fakenham.

The action at the Punchestown Festival last week was good. However, now it’s all about the flat from a notebook perspective. I have cleared out the NH horses from the tracker, as I concentrate on the action on the level and there were plenty last week.

Notebook time

For me the best performance of day one of the Guineas Meeting was Dramatised’s success in Friday’s opening juvenile contest. The daughter of Showcasing overcame early greenness to quicken nicely clear of her rivals 1f out. She might head to York for a Listed contest next and has to be one of the leading fancies for next month’s Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Twilight Calls so impressive when wining C&D handicap on his seasonal reappearance was stepping into Group company for the first time in Saturday’s Palace House Stakes. Drawn out wide his cause wasn’t helped when he was carried left 1f out and eventually finished a 1 ¼ length 5^th of 12. Maybe he’s not going to prove up to this level but he deserves another chance to show us if he is or not.

Sir Mark Prescott had a couple of seconds at Newmarket, on Sunday, one of them was Revolver. The 5-year was back for the first time in twenty months and ran a race full of promise in finishing a 2 ½ length 2^nd of 9 to the well handicapped Cemhaan. Highly regarded he has an entry in the Ascot Gold Cup and he showed on Sunday that he retains plenty of his ability. If he stays sound he should be set for a good season whether in handicaps or pattern company.

Here are two for the tracker. The first ran at Newmarket on Saturday and the second at Thirsk.

Raatea – Julie Camacho

There should be a few winners come out of the valuable 6f handicap on 2,000 Guineas Day at Newmarket. Raatea a big improver for the fitting of the hood on good or quicker ground last season. The 5-year-old had a really encouraging seasonal return when a ½ length 3rd of 12 over C&D.  He ran better than his 5 ¼ length 7^th of 19 suggests on Saturday. He was to starting to make headway when not getting a run 1f out. Losing momentum at a vital stage he stayed on all the way to the line but wasn't able catch the leaders. There will be another day for him off his present mark.

The form of Saturday’s Thirsk Hunt Cup should be worth following.  With just 3 ½ lengths separating the first ten home.

Last week’s eyecatcher Haydock eyecatcher Cruyff Turn finished 7^th.  I don’t think he was quite at his best on Saturday, However, he’s one to note at York’s Dante Meeting, if he gets a sound surface.

Last year’s third Astro King (9^th) was making his seasonal reappearance. He didn’t help his cause by being slowly away and didn’t get the clearest of runs close to home. If he, had he would likely have finished in the places. This should have set up for the Royal Hunt Cup, a race he finished runner-up last year.

The real unlucky horse of the race was the tenth home Trais Fluors. He got no sort of run 2f and wasn’t knocked about when his chance had gone. Not one to take a short price about but he’s a well handicapped horse when all the cards fall right.

Snash – Tim Easterby

Snash stepped up on his Haydock reappearance 7-days earlier with a good effort in finishing eighth. The 4-year-old who was having just his second start since joining the Tim Easterby yard was caught out wide but was doing his best work at the finish. He was another to meet a bit of trouble close to home. This was his first start over a mile and he seemed to stay it. Both career wins have come on the all-weather but should be able to win races on turf over 7f/1m for his new connections.

Tuesday racing

It might be all about the flat now but there are only two flat cards on Tuesday and one of them is on the all-weather at Lingfield. The other is an evening card at Wetherby.

The 2022-23 jumps season is underway. It’s the first National of the new season as Fakenham hosts the Norfolk National (4.15). There’s also jumps action Ayr, Sedgefield and in Ireland at Ballinrobe.

There’s plenty for flat fans to look forward for the rest of the week though with Chester’s three-day May Festival starting tomorrow and Derby & Oaks Trial's Day on Saturday at Lingfield.

Fakenham

4:15 – Snellings Norfolk National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 5f

Despite the good ground there’s a decent sized field of ten for the Norfolk National. Last year’s winner Game Line is back down to his last year’s winning mark. He ticks the course, distance and going boxes and looks set for another big run.

Trainer Stuart Edmunds is 4-10 +15.58 with his chasers here, including this race in 2019 and he’s got a lively contender in Havana Hermano. The 8-year-old will like the good ground and he’s won around here over hurdles. If he stays 3m 5f he won’t be far away.

Debden Bank made it 3-3 over fences at Southwell last month. He’s been raised 5lb for that success but he’s a sound jumper of a fence and is respected. In form, he stays 3m but stamina for this marathon trip must be proven.

Tommie Beau is another last time out winner. He made it 2-6 over fences when winning at Plumpton last month. The return to better ground suited him last time. A 3lb rise in the weights demands more from him but he’s in form and could improve for the step up to 3m 5f.

The veteran Potters Legend has finished runner-up on his last two starts here, both over an extended mile. The step back up in trip is a positive for the 12-year-old who is 9lb below his last winning mark and should run his race.

1pt win – Tommie Beau.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John