Sean mc namara

I can’t settle on anything concrete on this. I've been up and down on it all day. There are holes in everything I look at. I’m going to take a very speculative each-way poke on Stewart Crawford’s GREEN SKY (1st reserve). She’s only 5, so hopefully there’s more to come, but she ran well at Ayr last time out, finishing 2nd to one of Dan Skelton’s. That was a much-improved run from previous, and she might be on the upgrade. She was an 80 on the flat for Joseph O'Brien. Her best bit of flat form was being beaten by 6 lengths in the Irish Lincoln. JJ Slevin has stayed loyal. There are 6 places on offer. It’s super risky, but I’ll chuck a penny in the well.

Tosti, an Argentine, has been in excellent form, with a T5 at the Houston Open, T12 at the Valero Texas Open, and T2 at the Corales Puntacana Championship in 2023. His recent success in Texas events makes him a compelling pick. Over his past 36 rounds in Texas, he ranks 8th in strokes gained: total, indicating comfort in the region. Plus, Tosti’s aggressive style suits the course’s drivable par-4s and reachable par-5s.

Riley has heated up recently, with top-10 finishes at the Valspar Championship and Puerto Rico Open, plus a T21 at the Masters, where he ranked 8th in strokes gained: approach. He finished T9 at TPC Craig Ranch in 2022, showing course affinity. His amateur pedigree (U.S. Junior Amateur finalist) and prior Texas wins (2024 Charles Schwab Challenge, 2020 TPC San Antonio) bolster his case. His iron play and Texas track record make him a lively longshot imo.

Bridgeman, a 25-year-old PGA Tour rookie, has shown promise with two top-10 finishes in his last four starts. He ranks 5th in strokes gained: putting (0.749), 12th in putts per round (27.78), 16th in scoring average (69.78), and 19th in strokes gained: total (0.922), making him a strong fit for TPC Craig Ranch’s birdie-friendly layout. His lack of a PGA Tour win is a concern, but he could outrun his odds. Also, TPC Craig Ranch rewards aggressive play and could align with Bridgeman’s strengths.

Ryo has a T13 finish at TPC Craig Ranch in 2023, won the 2023 Cazoo Open de France on the DP World Tour, proving he can handle pressure. Asian players have performed well at this venue, with three in the top nine last year. His course history piques my interest. It's speculative, but aren't they all at this level?