Considering we are still recovering from Cheltenham, I am pretty impressed with tomorrow’s cards. There seems to be plenty of depth to most of the big races and such competition leads to plenty of value. The first race at Newbury is proof of that and I am siding with BLOW YOUR WAD who could be very well handicapped. Connections think plenty of this horse and his bumper form last year stacks up and reads quite impressively. His hurdles form isn’t too shabby either but a blowout in the Tolworth last time blotted his copy book somewhat. He has been given plenty of time to recover from that and I expect him to be troubling the judge.
The Mares final handicap is always a competitive event and this year looks no different. It’s 7/1 the field and I am going to have two darts at the board. First up is LETS GO TO VEGAS whose trainer Alastair Ralph has tried to win this race in the past. He hasn’t much luck so far but the mares he has run in it have been quite smart. The selection is of a similar background and her win at Ludlow last time was quite impressive. She would much rather 3 miles I think but conditions tomorrow might just make it a good test which would bring her stamina into play. She looks a solid each way play at 10/1.
BLUE BEACH is trained just down the road from the first selection and she too is well thought of. She burst onto the scene with a commanding success in a Uttoxeter bumper before finishing second to Mares Novice hurdle winner, You Wear It Well, on her hurdle debut. She then contested a messy race at Hereford before returning last time out with an easy success. A mark of 108 looks pretty reasonable considering that form and at 12/1 she too represents real value.
Up at Bangor On Dee, the last could go the way of handicap debutant, SCHERBOBALOB, again for the Alastair Ralph yard. He showed improved form on his final qualifying run and an opening mark of 100 could be lenient, especially when you factor in Jay Tidball’s claim. It doesn’t look that hot a race and it might not take much winning.
Newbury 1.30 – Blow Your Wad
Newbury 2.40 – Lets Go To Vegas / Blue Beach
Bangor On Dee 4.53 – Scherbobalob
