Saturday's Sizzlers !

Some big sprints for Saturday most notably the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket  http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=528340&r_date=2011-04-30

This is probably the most competitive sprint we have seen so far this season with 15 runners lining up for this 5f contest which has been won by some top sprinters in the past.
At the head of the field we have Astrophysical Jet who improved markedly through last summer and is now out to take the sprinting crown for the year. She won 3 from 4 when switched to this 5f trip at the end of last season, two of those were in Group 3 company which she faces again today. She should be ready to put her best foot forward as Noble Storm won on his first run back recently and her trainer Ed McMahon will have her geared up for this. He has reported that she is capable of winning a Group 1 and she will be heading for the Nunthorpe after this all being well.
Borderlescott although 9 now will no doubt run up to his usual level of form, he was a close 2nd to Equiano in this last year staying on well up the hill and he is a proven Group 1 performer who is consistent. However he finished 3 3/4 lengths behind Sole Power in the Nunthorpe last season although that came after an interupted perparation. He has reportedly been working well at Southwell to convince some people he is back to his very best.
On the subject of Sole Power his 100/1 win in the Nunthorpe wasnt given much credence from the form pundits at the time and he did little to change that view on his run in Dubai.
Evens and Odds although beating Redford last time had the advantage of having had a few runs and although he won last seasons StewardsCup by a neck from another of todays rivals Jonny Mudball he may be not be good to figure in the places.
Iver Bridge Lad has been in the form of his life and you wouldnt put it passed him being involved in the finish again as he has improved enough to be a Group 3 performer as he showed last time when only beaten a neck by Genki in the Abernant.
Rain Delayed also put up a good performance last time out when beaten into 2nd by Noble Storm at Newbury although that too may not be good enough to get him involved this time despite the assistance of Murtagh.
Mister Hughie will be having his first run for Tim Easterby and it will be interesting to see how he goes as he showed a good level of form at his best last summer when a 3yo.
Several of the others are also having their first run of the season and this may be a race to watch rather than one for betting, however I would imagine that Astrophysical Jet, Borderlescott and Iver Bridge Lad will be to the fore come the finishing post and the latter two represent ew value at 9/1 and 11/1 respectively

Over at Doncaster Cape Vale reappears in the Class 3 6f Handicap and may struggle off this mark and one's worth a second look that may have a bit of value in the market are Desert Poppy and Diman Waters. Desert Poppy won sprint handicaps at both Newbury and Windsor last season and only being lightly raced she may have more improvement to come. The same can be said of Eric Alston's Diman Waters and we have seen what the stable's King of Eden has done since his return from the winter break and Diman Waters could be equally good if he has filled out into his big frame.

There are a few other races to keep an eye on and I will review all racing on Wednesday evening in "Up a bit, down a bit.

Please remember when reading this blog that I am not a professional tipster and that I only do these write ups in my spare time for the assistance of the other racing enthusiasts like myself.