Andrew made a big profit with his buy of TOM MARQUAND at Yarmouth on Monday and has three recommended bets/trades on Tuesday, October 8th.

LEICESTER 1.53

After a number of abandoned meetings due to waterlogging it looks like Leicester, my local track, might actually get to race today. The straight course (races over 5f-7f) usually favours those drawn low-to-middle, especially in handicaps on good to soft or softer going (based on race times, not the official verdict). In the past five years backing stalls 1, 2 and 3 blind under these conditions would have found 30 winners from 150 bets (20% strike-rate) for a profit of £15.73 to a £1 level stake at SP (expected winners – 24.06, A/E = 1.25). All bar six of those winners led or race prominently and the key to these races is to look towards low-drawn runners who possess early pace. EMPORESS (stall 2 of 11) has a good draw in this 6f nursery, but her patient style is of some concern, and it might pay to side with Kevin Ryan’s LOVE GAMES (stall 3). The son of Bungle Inthejungle made the running before lack of peak fitness told when third at Carlisle on his latest start – his first outing for 64 days and first since a wind operation – and he could prove hard to pass. Buy in the Spreadex 50-25-10 market or take a fixed odds price, each-way.

Recommendation: Back LOVE GAMES in Leicester 1.53

HUNTINGDON 2.00

SAILED AWAY has been off the track for 205 days but has form when fresh, finishing second at Fakenham on his comeback last term and third in a Bangor bumper on his seasonal debut in 2022/2023. The Stuart Edmunds-trained six-year-old was called some names after tasting defeat at odds of 2-1f, 5-2, 7-2, 5-1, 2-1f and 6-4f on his first six starts last term but signed off with a soft-ground course and distance handicap hurdle win and his only other run here saw him finish second (5-1) by just over one length. He might not be one to back in-running at skinny odds, but it will be very disappointing if he isn’t in the first two. Buy in the Spreadex 50-25-10 market.

Recommendation: Back SAILED AWAY in Huntingdon 2.00

BRIGHTON 4.45

There’s likely to be a strong headwind in the straight at Brighton this afternoon which could make life difficult for the front-runners. That’s bad news for supporters of short-priced favourite DESERT FOOTSTEPS in this 1m handicap, as Marcus Tregoning’s filly made all when successful at Chepstow on her handicap debut last time. That win came on good ground and she was subsequently withdrawn from an intended outing at Bath because soft ground was deemed unsuitable, another worry given that it’s on the slow side today. Take her on with ROSCIOLI (stall 9 of 9), who will appreciate the return to this trip and drop to Class 6 level after his fifth place in a 7f Class 4 handicap at Epsom. His two turf wins, including one over course and distance, have come on good to firm going but he has placed form in the mud and won’t mind if the forecast showers materialise (jn which case his high draw will be advantageous as they’re likely to come stands’ side in the straight). Buy in the Spreadex 50-25-10 market or take a fixed odds price.

Recommendation: Back ROSCIOLI in Brighton 4.45

Please note that these are examples of winning bets from the past week, and it is important to remember that spread betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses larger than your initial stake/deposit.