Hi all,
No Getaway & Éclair Surf provided us with two wins at Sandown yesterday. The former put in a superb display of jumping from the front and it was joy to watch. Those two wins gave us a second day of profit to bank and sets us up for an exciting weekend of racing.
I have had a look at just the one race at Kelso on Friday.
Kelso
2:50 – Edinburgh Gin Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Class 2) – 2m 7 ½ f
Just seven are set to go post for a new race at the Scottish track.
The mare Quick Wave heads the betting after her recent Catterick win. Up 7lb in better race but is in good form and goes well on heavy ground.
Duc De Grissay won over C&D (heavy) last March. The 8-year-old was still very much in contention and upside the eventual winner when sprawling and unseating his rider at the last in the Borders National here back in December. The handicapper raised him 8lb for not competing which isn’t ideal but he’s only had four starts over fences and is capable of better.
Top weight Vintage Clouds is just 2lb higher than when winning the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock last season. Not raced since 5th of 7 in a veterans’ chase at Warwick 93-days ago but has had a wind-op since. If the 11-year-old gets into a good jumping rhythm like he did in the Peter Marsh he’s on an attractive mark.
Crixus’s Escape won a 2m 6 ½ f handicap chase on the same card as Duc De Grissay here last March. Needed his seasonal return at Aintree but showed plenty of resolution and stamina to win at Ayr next time. Normally a solid jumper, he was still going well when coming down at the 11th in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock 62-days ago. Probably needs to improve a shade to win this but he could do so.
Verdict: Quick Wave probably deserves to head the betting but looks plenty short enough and worth taking on. The more of a stamina test the better for Duc De Grissay returning to 3m. At the prices there’s plenty to like about Vintage Clouds, who will be tough to beat if coming back to his best after another wind-op and Crixus’s Escape who just gets the nod.
1pt win – Crixus’s Escape – 9/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John