Good morning all,

Not much on today and I'm going to make a decision in the next hour about whether to go to Bath today, and tick another course I've never been to off the list. I could crack on with the weekend's work but the temptation of visiting a new course is proving a big pull…

Anyway, not much to talk about today so a look ahead to one or two that I've seen in the entries for the coming week, plus today's selection at the end. 

Stratford on Sunday might see Fair Frank try his luck in the Novice Hurdle at 2.10. You'll remember him from Southwell where he was clearly in need of the run beforehand, and lasted out a bit longer than I thought he would, weakening from three out. A really good size, chasing will be his game and I'm not suggesting for a minute he'll be winning at the weekend, but it will be interesting to see how he gets on with an eye to the future.

There's an interesting one at Yarmouth tomorrow in the shape of Sweet Sienna in the 8.20, a 6f handicap for 3-y-o's. She went in the tracker last year after her run at Nottingham where she was totally outclassed, but looked one of the better ones in the paddock beforehand and the sort I though would make a better horse this season. This is her seasonal debut so she might need the run, but she's one I will be following as I'm sure there's a race or two in her this season. It may be tomorrow, so we need to watch the market.

Saturday sees one of the big summer meetings at Market Rasen. It's normally one I look forward to but it has to be said, it looks a pretty disappointing card on the entries. It's a shame as Rasen, one of the more forward-thinking racecourses, deserve better. However, that doesn't mean there's not some interesting contenders on the card, and Nucky Thompson catches the eye in the Listed hurdle at 2.10. I was quite taken with him when he won at Warwick last year, and he looks nicely handicapped on Saturday on a line through the third, So Celebre, who went on to win a couple of handicaps later in the season. There were excuses for his subsequent disappointments – soft ground at Cheltenham was no use to him, and he was outclassed at Aintree, and I'd suggest his runs on the Flat have been warning up for this. Given some poor looking form figures, you'd hope we'll get a decent price too.

Blue Comet tries again in the novice hurdle that follows, but I think I'd like to see some headgear to straighten his jumping out and make him concentrate a bit better before getting involved now. But then it's the Listed Summer Plate, always a competitive affair, and Earthmoves is one I like. I'll like him even more if we do get a bit of rain before the weekend as it will just slow one or two of the speedier sorts down, but I loved the way he came through them once his stamina kicked in over this C&D last time out. He's been given a kick by the handicapper for that but the strong gallop here will help, and he looks just the type for this.

For today's selection I'm looking at Worcester, and A Boy Named Suzi in the 7.00. That was a return to form over this C&D last time out, and I think you can mark the effort up a bit as he was in front for a long time before getting picked off by the in-form and potentially still well treated Knight Of Noir. He's so well handicapped now that you feel he has to win one sooner or later, and if Harry Skelton can hold on to him for a bit longer tonight then I think he has a first-rate chance to score.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.