Wednesday Racing: Three Selections After Yesterday’s Double
Yesterday could hardly have gone better, with two selections and two winners, and we head into Wednesday with three horses on the board.
There is plenty to like about all three, although they are very different types: an experienced handicapper who looks capable of striking from his current mark, a Beverley specialist who continues to hold his form, and an exciting unbeaten juvenile taking his first step into Listed company.
3.00 Salisbury – So Darn Hot
2 points win
Our tissue: 4.0
We start at Salisbury with So Darn Hot, who we believe has a considerably better chance than his recent form figures might initially suggest.
The four-year-old was progressive throughout 2025 and, although he has yet to get his head in front this season, there has been encouragement in several strong handicaps.
His latest fifth at Ascot is particularly interesting. He raced prominently and travelled in a handy position, but never really managed to turn that position into a serious challenge for the lead. He made his effort around two furlongs out and kept on until weakening only in the closing stages.
More importantly, that Ascot race has subsequently developed into a useful piece of form.
So Darn Hot is a lengthy gelding who has undergone a breathing operation and has already demonstrated plenty of versatility regarding both surface and ground. He stays seven furlongs and has form on Polytrack, Tapeta, good-to-firm and heavy going.
Today he drops into a Class 3 handicap off a mark of 90, with Kieran Shoemark taking the ride for Ed Walker. citeturn411507search0
The Walker team remains a stable we respect greatly, and this looks the sort of race in which So Darn Hot can make his presence felt if reproducing the better parts of his Ascot performance.
We have priced him at 4.0 and are happy to play.
Selection: SO DARN HOT – 2 points win
3.30 Salisbury – Quest For Stars
3 points win
Our tissue: 2.76
Our strongest bet of the day comes half an hour later at Salisbury in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes.
Quest For Stars is a horse we believe could develop into a very smart performer.
A €700,000 yearling purchase, he is the first foal of a French juvenile winner over a mile, from a family that includes Lockinge Stakes runner-up Trans Island. Everything about his pedigree suggests that this step up from seven furlongs to a mile should suit him extremely well.
He arrives here unbeaten after two starts, and while neither victory has been flashy, there has been a feeling on both occasions that there was more available if required.
That is an important characteristic in a young horse.
The Racing Post takes a very similar view, making Quest For Stars its nap and highlighting the likelihood that the move up to a mile will bring further improvement. citeturn411507search3
This represents a significant rise in grade into Listed company, but he has always looked capable of taking that step.
He also represents the Charlie Appleby yard, which has an excellent recent record in this race, having won it three times since 2021.
The combination of an unbeaten profile, strong pedigree, likely improvement over the longer trip and powerful stable record makes him very difficult for us to oppose.
Our tissue price was 2.76, and he rates our main bet of the afternoon.
Selection: QUEST FOR STARS – 3 points win
4.15 Beverley – Sunny Orange
1 point each-way
Our tissue: 8.1
Our final selection takes us north to Beverley, where Sunny Orange appeals as an each-way play.
Beverley is one of those tracks where proven course form carries additional weight, and Sunny Orange certainly ticks that box.
He has won here on multiple occasions, including gaining his fourth Beverley success earlier this season, and there are signs that he remains in very good heart.
His recent run at Pontefract behind Star Start was another solid effort.
Held up early, he made good headway from over two furlongs out, challenged approaching the final furlong and continued to battle all the way to the line. The winner enjoyed the better of how the race unfolded, but Sunny Orange again demonstrated that he retains plenty of ability.
He has shown himself effective on both firm and soft ground and stays this sort of intermediate distance well.
Today's Beverley surface is reported as good to firm, good in places, which should present no concerns.
At The Races also notes that Sunny Orange is back on his last winning mark and highlights his strong course profile.
He may not have quite the scope for improvement of some younger rivals, but what he does have is reliability, course form and a horse currently holding his form well.
At our tissue price of 8.1, that is enough to warrant an each-way interest.
Selection: SUNNY ORANGE – 1 point each-way
Today’s Bets
3.00 Salisbury – SO DARN HOT
2 points win
Tissue: 4.0
3.30 Salisbury – QUEST FOR STARS
3 points win
Tissue: 2.76
4.15 Beverley – SUNNY ORANGE
1 point each-way
Tissue: 8.1
Quest For Stars is the one we are strongest on, but So Darn Hot looks interesting back in this grade and Sunny Orange's Beverley record makes him difficult to ignore at an each-way price.
Good luck.
