Soft Ground Could Showcase Guapo's Talent

A couple of short priced favourites won for us yesterday, but unfortunately the bigger priced selections were out of luck. I am usually loath to put up an odds on horse as a selection, but sometimes the form and figures don't lie and the most likely looking winner is the favourite, no matter what angle you approach it from.

Order Of St. George looks to be a really progressive type, and he will be a threat to all in the St. Leger, especially if it comes up softer than good. The run of Sea Moon in behind was also very encouraging, and it will be interesting to see if John Oxx can work his magic and get him back to his very best.

As is usually the case on a Monday, the quality of action on offer is not the best with low class maidens and handicaps the recurring theme of the day. The rain arrived at Brighton overnight, and this has sparked my interest in a horse in the opener. Richard Hannon won this race last year, and he has two contenders today. Pinky Promise has already had three runs, and is rated just 62 after finishing a well beaten third on her last two outings. Her dam is a half sister to Captain Rio, so perhaps she will improve for the soft ground, but she has looked limited and even though she looks the stable first string on jockey bookings, her stablemate looks interesting at a much bigger price.

Guapo Bay was given a very considerate introduction at the beginning of this month over today's trip at Windsor, and she showed a glimmer of ability when finishing 7 lengths behind the winner in 11th place, just under a couple of lengths in front of today's rival Flying Bond Girl. Her sire, Showcasing, has produced a good number of easy ground winners so far, and has a strike rate of 21% (8/38) on soft, and is 50% (1/2) on heavy. Her half sister La Tinta Bay won over course and distance here for the same owner, and her dam won her maiden on soft ground over 5f at Sandown. She will have to come on a lot from that first run, but with the soft ground very likely to suit she could run a big race with Kieran O'Neill again in the saddle, and looks worthy of a little each way support at 20/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.00 BRIGHTON-GUAPO BAY(20/1) E/W.