Thirsk Placepot: Friday August 31

Thirsk is the venue for today's Placepot.
Thirsk is the Placepot venue of choice on Friday for Timeform's Matt Gardner...
14:10 - With Orions Hero being a non-runner the simplest solution is to include the one with experience that sets the standard, Master Ming, and the well-bred National Poet, who cost €240,000 as a foal. The step up in trip should suit the former, having stuck to his task well at Folkestone last time, whilst National Poet, a Nayef half-brother to Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah, starts life in a winnable contest and could well make the places.
14:40 - Bollin Felix and Solar View, both penalised for recent successes, look the pair to focus on here, with the latter preferred as a Placepot selection. The three-year-old has progressed well this year, winning three of his last four starts, and looks sure to go well following his Catterick win two days ago, where he was merely kept up to his work to score by a length and three-quarters.
15:15 - Grievous Angel looks fairly solid in the context of this race, finishing second in maidens on each of her last three stars, and she has an excellent chance of making the places once down in grade here. Emperor's Daughter is likely to provide the stiffest competition for win purposes, but at present we only need the first three and the selection of Grievous Angel should suffice.
15:50 - There are reasons for taking on the two current market leaders, Profile Star and Catwalk, with the former's best efforts coming at five furlongs whilst the drop to this trip is unlikely to suit the latter. Therefore, we will take both Gowanharry, who is re-fitted with the tongue-tie and would certainly have a chance if returning to her best, and Tidal's Baby, who shaped with encouragement at Chepstow last time, when possibly needing the run, and is worth bearing in mind.
16:25 - Frognal had an obvious chance in this event but is a non-runner, so the one to side with is Select Committee, who hasn't been as consistent this year as is usually the case but has placed on his last two starts and can do so once more. The seven-year-old has done most of his racing at five furlongs, but an extra 200 yards on this sharp track shouldn't inconvenience him and he can see us safely through to the final leg.
16:55 - Having selected three bankers up to this point, it would be a shame not to include one more in the concluding leg. Karaka Jack is the one the tickles my fancy, the five-year-old having been in better heart of late than his form figures suggest. His stamina was stretched when fifth at Goodwood over a mile and one furlong on his penultimate start before never getting involved having missed a beat at the start in a decent handicap at Newbury last time. It is a risk selecting jus the one, but with three places currently on offer it is a risk worth taking.
Selections:
14:10 - 5, 6
14:40 - 11
15:15 - 1
15:50 - 6, 7
16:20 - 6
16:55 - 1
= 4 lines
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