Hi all,
My first selections of the new month and let’s hope we can begin February like we did January.
Just to keep you updated. It’s going to be a busy on the betting front over the next three days and I’m planning to get the weekend off with a few selections, mostly from the Dubai Winter Carnival at Meydan, on Friday
The action really notches up several gears on Saturday and Sunday. It’s the start of the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday and there’s also eight races from Sandown, Musselburgh and Wetherby live on ITV. At this stage expecting to have selections from Leopardstown, Sandown and Musselburgh it just depends on many.
There’s more racing on ITV4 on Sunday with the broadcaster taking four races live from Musselburgh and four from the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival.
On to Thursday’s action. The race of the day is the Class 3 Dick Hunt ‘Wigmore’ Handicap Chase at Wincanton. And it’s that race I have put under the microscope today. There’s also a selection from the lucky last at Fakenham.
Wincanton
3:00 – Certainly Red a winner over C&D two starts before following up at Sandown last month. He’s up 8lb but is going the right way and has a great chance of following up here. He was available at 4/1 in the early bird betting which I doubt will be available when you’re reading this.
Certainly Red does face several interesting rivals though. Previous C&D winner Golden Sovereign returned from a near 22 month absence with an encouraging 3 ¾ lengths 3rd of 11 over C&D last time. He should be sharper for the run and is very much in the mix.
Given the form of the Paul Nicholls yard you have to respect Southfield Harvest. The 9-year-old was pulled up at Fontwell on his return from a long absence but ran better when a 11 lengths 4th of 10 to Farinet at Chepstow last time and could be working up to a race like this.
Neon Moon shaped with promise on his chase debut at Exeter but ran poorly back at the same venue 16-days later. A winner here over hurdles last spring, he’s better than he was able to show last time and returns from wind surgery.
Tallow For Coal looked like an improving handicap chaser when winning at Lingfield on seasonal return but ran poorly when pulling up at Newbury last time. Not out of it if handling the track and reproducing his Lingfield performance. Champagne Court pulled up in the same race but he’s on a fair mark and will appreciate the drying ground.
Putdecashonthedash has failed to complete on both this season’s starts and he’s 0-7, 0 places when racing higher than Class 4. However, he’s a previous C&D winner and just 2lb above last winning mark.
Certainly Red – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Golden Sovereign – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Fakenham
4:25 – Small Bad Bob is now 7lb below his last winning mark and the 8-year-old was back on track last time when an 8 ¾ length 3rd of 15 over C&D. This is a slight ease in class, and his yard had a winner at Plumpton on Monday, which is another positive.
Small Bad Bob – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John