RIGHT, apologies for no Daily Double yesterday. I didn’t fancy anything much, apart from Besharah at Windsor, who duly won despite being smashed up in the betting ring before the race and ended up at 3-10f. As we build up to Epsom, today’s punting challenge is made more difficult by the inclement weather that could have a big effect on the ground as the day goes on. So it might be sensible to stick to the all-weather. The first selection is…

HAKKA at Wolverhampton (8.20). Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old produced a promising debut run over course and distance. He should improve a lot for that but has the well backed Godolphin newcomer Important Message to beat.

I should put Synodic (4.55 Ripon) in as the other tip especially as he is on our notebook list of horses to follow. But I’m going to take a bit of a chance on CACTUS VALLEY (3.25 Ripon), who offers a bit more value. Formerly with Roger Charlton, he is now with Mick Easterby and he was only four lengths behind Mahsoob at York last time. He is down to 85 and this is also a drop in grade, so as long as the ground doesn’t turn into a quagmire he could run a big race.

PS Instant Attraction and All My Love are other Ripon fancies.

Be lucky.