Saturday's Selection

We just missed out on place money with Kingstreet Lady earlier this week. It was highly frustrating to finish 4th and it seems to be a recurring theme of late. I wasn't best pleased to see her drift out to as big as 33s but it was understandable given the rain that fell. I think the ground just blunted her turn of foot and she is not one to lose faith in just yet. She will be dropped another couple of pound after that run and she has a small race in her somewhere along the way.

Tomorrow my fancy goes in the Silver Bowl at Haydock, a fiercely competitive 1m class 2 8f handicap with 17 runners due to go to post. In races like this stakes should be kept to a minimum but you won't need to risk much on this fella to make a pretty penny. Still On Top is currently a 33/1 shot with a few bookies and he caught my eye when I was at Chester a couple of weeks ago.

He made his seasonal reappearance at the Lancashire track (7.5f good) and he really looked like a big imposing sort in the parade ring. He was an even bigger eyecatcher during the race and with a clearer run I think he would have been placed. He was outpaced 3f out but entering the last couple of furlongs he looked to be staying on strongly before he was snatched up. That run was off a mark of 96 and the handicapper has generously dropped him to 94.

He showed some serious form last season, none more so than when getting to within 4L of trailblazing Log Out Island at Redcar over an inadequate 6f (in receipt of 4lbs). His pedigree is loaded with stamina on the dam side so this son of Royal Applause is bred to get the trip. He has shaped as though it could be his optimum distance and he ran a cracker at Ponte in a listed heat (8f goods to soft) on his only previous try at this trip.

It is currently good to firm at Haydock but there are showers forecast. Still On Top will be fine on good or good to soft but very soft ground would be a worry. Tim Easterby's horses generally come on massively for their comeback runs and I think we could see a big performance from this colt tomorrow. Hopefully the weather gods shine on us and Still On Top can run a big race at 33/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.05 HAYDOCK: STILL ON TOP E/W 33/1