In the doldrums

The punting is not going well it must be said. Not at critical point yet, the dreaded Virus is not to blame at the moment, when every effort at finding a winner is thwarted, but things are just not going right.

I know the problem, too damn busy at the B&B to do some proper studying, but things have calmed down today and I've had a good look at the Strensall Stakes at York, 2.45, and believe Confront has a good each way chance at 12-1. This one ran very well in a pacemaking role for Harbinger last time out till the last furlong and while his form this year is not strong, he generally comes good in the late summer/autumn and he is a rarity in that he has won and been second at the rare distance of 9F.

All the experts agree that Michael Jarvis's Rainbow Peak is a potential group winner and he will be hard to beat but at 6-4 that one I'd rather have 12-1 EW about Confront.

I'm holding up the white flag on the other races and have just rowed in with Hugh Taylor, doing an EW patent on his three at York to return a four-figure sum should he have an earth shattering end to the York meeting.