Hi all,
I really enjoyed Champions Day and it was nice to see my preview highlight most of the winners. I took Stradivarius & Dream Of Dreams on just went with the wrong outsider in the opening two races.
It’s Champion Hurdle Day today. Well the Welsh version at Ffos Las and there’s a regional National with the Durham version at Sedgefield.
Ffos Las
3:10 – Potter Group Welsh Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 2m
The drying ground has probably gone against the Harry Fry trained Lightly Squeeze. The 6-year-old was an improving handicap hurdler that season winning three times on soft ground. Was just in the lead when falling at the last in the Betfair Hurdle on good ground in February. Looks the sort to win more races this season and had a nice prep on the flat at Haydock last month.
1pt each way – Lightly Squeeze – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Sedgefield
4:33 – Paxtons Support The NHS Durham National Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 5f
Brian Boranha won this race in 2018, off 5lb higher, granted he was only 4th of 10 in the race 12 months ago, but is 8lb lower this time around. Was in the process of running a good race when falling at Catterick in the North Yorkshire Grand National in January. Possibly doesn’t always find as much in a finish as you would like but he’s got the good ground he likes and is to attractively handicapped to ignore.
1pt each way – Brian Boranha – 17/2 @ William Hill (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Cork
5:00 – coopsuperstores.ie Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 2m 1 ½ f
Us And Them finished runner-up in Grade 1 novice chases both at Cheltenham and at Aintree two seasons back. Struggled in soft ground handicaps last season but bounced back to his best when 3rd of 18 in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival in March (good to soft) and would have finished closer to the winner but for a bad mistake at the last. The 7-year-old’s best form has come on good ground in the past and he looks on a competitive mark here.
Lakemilan ran out an impressive winner of this race 12 months ago.He’s 9lb higher today but Simon Torrens does take off a handy 5lb. Has returned from a 299-day layoff with runs over hurdles and the flat and should be spot on fitness wise in his bid for back to back wins in the race.
1pt win – Lakemilan – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes
1pt win – Use And Them – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Naas
4:50 – Simply True put in a fine performance, in the first time cheekpieces when winning at Killarney 14-days ago. The handicapper has raised him 6lb for that success but 7lb claimer Sam Ewing has been booked for the 3-year-old which negates the weight rise. Needs soft ground or worse to be at his best but can go well again if the headgear continues to work. He’s been weak in the mark this morning which is a slight concern and is drawn out wide in stall 12 but he looks worth chancing as an each-way alternative to favourite Dance Jupiter.
1pt each way – Simply True – 14/1 @ Coral (paying 3 places 1/4 odds)
Cheers
John