Chookie Royale ran a nice race at Hamilton, despite being friendless in the market and plenty of positives can be taken from the run (from connections' point of view!). Despite being flat to the boards at halfway, he stayed on well enough to lead the chasing pack and that was encouraging seeing how things didn't really pan out to favour him. It's very likely that he needs another furlong when the ground will be that quick but I think that he would be really, really interesting if getting some cut in the ground over a stiff 6f. This is a run that can be built on somewhat and he is a horse to keep on side, one that should be winning before long.

-2.00pts on the day. Form of last 10 selections; 0-0-7-5-7-9-5-1-2-4 (1 winner & 1 place).

As has been the case all week, there are very few decent handicaps to get stuck into and it's another day where only one worthwhile bet has popped up. It's one that I expect to run really well though, if getting a race run to suit (the main sticking point) and hopefully it will. Have a good day and it's not long until Ascot.

4:10 Nottingham - Piazza San Pietro - 2pts @ 11/1 (General)

York Glory will take all of the beating here if on song and getting a race run to suit, but he is underpriced at the current odds and must be taken on with something else. Piazza San Pietro is the most interesting at the prices and although he may not get a race run to suit either, a chance shall be taken on the now Zoe Davison trained 6-year-old. This fine looking gelding made relentless improvement in handicaps during 2010 & 2011 when trained by Andy Haynes, improving by two-stone and winning no fewer than eight races in the process (inc. a claimer). I can only assume that he had some issues last year, as he was only seen once after July and disappointed in that race, though had some excuses. His owner then decided to move him to the Davison yard for some reason and it nearly paid dividends as ran a stormer at Goodwood a few weeks ago, on the back of a 264 day lay-off. On that occasion, he finished a half-length third behind some useful performers and all of this was despite racing on the wrong part of the course for the majority of the contest, thus leaving me with the opinion that it was one of his best performances and one that should be marked up somewhat. Indeed he probably would have ended victorious if running where the duo in front of him did and maybe there's still more to come from him this season, despite his record suggesting that he's thoroughly exposed. Coming down to Nottingham could see him step up on that effort even more (it's a more suitable venue for him) and there's every chance that he'll improve for having had that recent run. A solid pace to run at would help massively, though it's not assured and that's worrying. I do, however, think that the price makes it a risk worth taking and George Baker being booked to ride is a big positive, which may be indicating that a big run is expected; he's 5-24 over C&D and is an excellent rider, especially when on board this type of animal (also just his second ride for the yard, his first for over seven years). There is a possibility that he could get into the Wokingham at Royal Ascot next week if getting a penalty for winning this race and hopefully that's why Zoe Davison is making the 320+ mile round-trip in order to run him in what is a very winnable looking race for the grade. At the current odds, this is the horse to be siding with.

Result - 8th @ 10/1; Better than bare form. Hampered when picking up.