Soft and heavy going just about everywhere today, stamina to the fore. Four selections from some of the TV races from me today, and I'm hopeful of a winner or two. Good luck!

1.55 Haydock – 7f Handicap

Down the bottom, the unexposed Ffion has to be taken very seriously, having proven herself on heavy ground here last time but I do wonder whether she has the experience to win a big handicap such as this. However, this looks likely to turn onto a slog and that should suit, so he tops my shortlist despite that inexperience.

Lincoln Park was a disappointing favourite at Chester last time but it was always going to be tricky to win from his wide draw, and this might be more up his street. His record here reads well (137352) and he loves soft/heavy ground. Back on the same mark as when narrowly denied over 6f here last October, he has a chance. 

Cold Stare would have a chance if he runs here and not Goodwood yesterday, but that’s not looking likely, so Redarna is the other I looked at. Two runs this season haven’t pulled up any trees, but he’d have needed both of those after an absence, and if he’s fitter then this looks a more suitable opportunity. He doesn’t race on soft ground very often but he’s won on it, stays a bit further than this and the booking of Paul Mulrennan is eyecatching. He’s got a terrific record on the horse (51511) and the return of cheekpieces looks like they mean business too. Worth consideration if you're looking for something at a bigger price.

3.15 York – 1m4f Handicap

Not many you put out your finger on and say that conditions will be ideal, and to an extent that includes my fancy, Green Planet, but he ran his best race to date on soft ground at Lingfield last time (when second to his much more fancied stablemate) and a repeat of that should see him on the premises. 

Tried in a bumper last year (sent off favourite) in which he finished fourth, looking very much in need of the experience, it has been a tale of steady improvement on the Flat, and although he’s related to plenty of sprinters, clearly the influence of Australia has put the stamina into him and this trip is no problem. Held up in rear last time, I expect him to be ridden a little nearer the pace given the small drop back in trip today. 

1.40 Goodwood

Hochfeld is doing little wrong at present and after an excellent third in the Chester Cup, appears to have every chance on a track he goes well at today, but he keeps getting nudged up in the weights and might be vulnerable for win purposes. 

Prince Alex is the obvious one, having rattled off a five-timer last year (including two wins on soft) and turned in a perfectly respectable reappearance run at Salisbury, but at a bigger price I’d not be in a rush to rule out Hyanna, who needed her first start of the season and then pulled her chance away at Newmarket last time. The yard were badly out of form at the time too, but that’s not the case now, and her second on heavy ground here last October (with Goshen behind) stands up well in the context of this race.She’s now 2lb lower than that run, and at 8s and bigger, she’d be my pick. 

2.00 Newmarket

They should rename this the Robert Cowell Benefit Handicap, as he has four of the six runners, but it’s top weight Arecibo that I think might be the one to come out on top. 

Despite the small field, this will be run at a good pace, and that will suit Arecibo. His problem last year was always finishing his race off, but on his first start for the new yard he found plenty for a bit of pressure to win easily here in April and then he was far from disgraced in the Palace House, not given a hard time when he was hampered a furlong out. There should be no such traffic problems in this field and if the pace holds up, which it should, he can come through late to score.

Today's selection – Green Planet 3.15 York

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Good luck with all your bets today,

David.