Andrew successfully opposed ARISAIG on Thursday (8th) and has three recommended bets/trades at York and Goodwood on Friday, August 23rd.

YORK 4.45

Andrew Balding’s previous nine runners in the Convivial maiden included a 4-1 winner and two seconds (33-1 and 9-2) and SPIRIT OF SUMMER, who looks well drawn in stall 1, is taken to build on his promising debut effort at Newmarket earlier this month. The son of Mohather was sent off at 11-1 for that newcomers maiden and found only all-the-way winner Righthere Rightnow too good. He was five lengths behind the winner but that was a solid effort given that he dwelt at the start and ran green before keeping on takingly and pulling two lengths clear of the third. The colt holds an entry in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket next month and Oisin Murphy takes the ride. Buy in the Spreadex 50-30-20-10 market or take a fixed odds price.

Recommendation: Back SPIRIT OF SUMMER in York 4.45

GOODWOOD 5.15

SYMBOL OF HOPE is forcecast8 to start as the 100-30 favourite in the Racing Post for this 6f handicap on the strength of his last time out Bath win. However, John & Rhys Flint’s six-year-old has scored just once from 28 starts away from Bath and could be worth taking on now switching from a left-handed to a straight course. Sell in the Spreadex 50-25-10 market.

Recommendation: Oppose SYMBOL OF HOPE in Goodwood 5.15

YORK 5.20

Several of the fancied runners in this 1m handicap have to overcome high draws and the angle could be to side with outsider ZAIN BLUE from stall 4 of 19. John Butler’s three-year-old often fails to settle, as he did when third to odds-on favourite MOUNT TEIDE (re-opposes today) at Newmarket last time but still managed to pull almost five lengths clear of the fifth that day and the bigger field/stronger pace will suit. The son of Blue Point broke his duck at Ascot on his penultimate start – a run that was franked by runner-up Cerulean Bay who has won twice since – and it’s worth remembering that he found only subsequent Group 3 winner Battle Cry too good when runner-up in the Convivial maiden at this meeting 12 months ago. Buy in the Spreadex 50-30-20-10 market or take a fixed odds price, each-way.

Recommendation: Back ZAIN BLUE in York 5.20

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.