Hi all,
The heavy rain that fell at Catterick went against the two selections at the North Yorkshire track yesterday. However, it was much better news for the two selections at Wexford. A first and second isn’t too shabby. A bit late now but you don’t realise how close I was I was to making Bythesametoken a 2pt selection. Oh, well that’s racing.
I’m about to head into the busiest nine days of betting of the winter, if not the whole year, From today it will be TEN days of betting, only ending a week on Sunday with the Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh. I know it’s hard to believe that the start of Irish Flat Season is just over week away. It will be rollercoaster 8 days that’s for sure, it always is but I’m expecting it to end in a tidy profit.
Wincanton
2:15 – Nine go to post for this Class 3 handicap chase and you can make a case for most of them.
Favori De Sivola has improved for going chasing, winning at Taunton (good) & over C&D (heavy) two starts back. Unseated his rider at the 12th at Hereford last time. Ground versatile, his jumping has been good apart from his last mishap. Lightly raced over the fences, just the four starts, the 6-year-old could yet rate higher.
Sandy Bay was only beaten a neck by Favori De Sivola at Taunton and gets a 14lb pull here. Not anywhere near that level of form on three subsequent starts. Although in his defence those runs came on soft & heavy ground and his best form has come on a sounder surface.
Putdecashonthedash put in a career best over fences when winning at Taunton 16-days ago. That was the 8-year-old’s first run since wind surgery. Up 5lb but the previous C&D winner should remain competitive, albeit his best form has come on soft and heavy.
Premiumaccess jumped well to win on his chase debut at Huntingdon in December and improved on that performance when finishing runner-up here over 2m 4f. However, he didn’t jump well enough when a well beaten 4th at Fakenham last time. Looks worth a try over this new distance and if he handles today’s quicker ground won’t be far away.
Onefortheroadtom isn’t the most reliable but he’s got the talent to win this, if on a going day. Won a handicap chase at Fakenham (good) 12 months ago, off 2lb lower. Well backed on both starts this year, 3/1 favourite at Newbury last time, suggests connections think the 8-year-old remains on a winnable mark. Likely to get his optimum conditions today and isn’t ruled out.
Verdict: Favori De Sivola is a worthy favourite and most likely winner. However, the change in underfoot conditions brings Putdecashonthedash right back into the mix.
2pts win – Favori De Sivola – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – Putdecashonthedash – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John