What a disaster last week was with my selection Ol Man River running no sort of race and finishing a long way tailed off last, there was something clearly amiss with him! To add insult to injury my top rated horse Gleneagles which didn’t meet my price criteria and was therefore overlooked won like a very good animal indeed and is one to keep on the right side of I feel!
Onwards and upwards as they say and today there is a plenty to get your teeth in to with cracking cards taking place over the jumps at Haydock and on the flat at Ascot and Lingfield where the Oaks and Derby trials are taking place.
I love nothing more than a big handicap where good priced and well handicapped horses can usually be found and today is no exception with the Totescoop6 Victoria Cup at Ascot having my stamp written all over it.
These races are by no means easy to call and a case can be made for many of these including one of my old favourites the battle hardened Bronze Angel who has won me a few pounds in the past. He has run well here previously and is a massive 33/1, however his recent form is nothing to write home about and although only six, there could be a little bit of decline setting in. The horse owes me nothing but I will kick myself if he wins or runs in to a place at that price but my nagging doubts put me off.
Another horse that features highly in my ratings is Suzi’s Connoisseur, who is fairly handicapped and tried in a hood for the first time today. He is generally available at 40/1 which is far too big in my book. He may have needed the run last time out but ran no sort of race which is slightly off putting but he will be a strip fitter today and with the application of the hood hopefully having a positive effect I can’t resist having a small each way on him.
Plenty of other runners deserve respect according to my figures and these include Chil The Kite, Outback Traveller, Heavens Guest, Professor, Bertiewhittle and Hawkeyethenoo.
But who do I think will win the race?
When I started to write this piece I was all over my top rated horse the Jedd O’Keefe trained Shared Equity who I thought had an outstanding chance at a great price. However he has sadly now been pulled out so in my opinion this now sets up the race up nicely for the next best in my ratings So Beloved.
So Beloved is a somewhat quirky character that can run one of two ways which in itself could be argued as a bit of a risky proposition, however there is no doubt that this horse possesses ability and is fairly handicapped in my book. A good first run last time out for his new stable is encouraging and his price stacks up well at 16/1 generally, 18/1 in places against my own market prices. Hopefully he will be on a going day today and put his best hoof forward and deliver the goods at a nice price.
Just a quick mention for War Sound in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock who I think holds a really good chance and will be carrying my money.
Selections:
So Beloved 3.45 Ascot 16/1 or better 1pt each way
Suzi’s Connoisseur 3.5 Ascot 40/1 0.5pt each way
War Sound 3.25 Haydock 10/1 or better 1pt each way
