It was
good to bag my first winner back yesterday as Little Jo toughed it out at
Newcastle. Bond’s Boy ran a decent race in third and the rest I’m sure will
appreciate the appearance.
Back to
the drawing board for day two though and I have come up with a couple more
speculative punts.
First
of all, up at Newcastle, Richard Fahey sends out CUSTODIAN for his seasonal reappearance. Blog watchers will know
that Fahey thinks plenty of this horse and has mentioned a tilt at the
Britannia if all goes to plan here today. That’s bold talk and obviously it is
a competitive field he faces today but such comments suggest he may be better
than a mark of 83.
If positive comments weren’t
enough then his win at Pontefract last year should convince you that this is a
horse who shouldn’t be on 83 for too much longer. He was really strong through
the line that day over 6f and looked as though another winter would do him no
harm whatsoever. If his opposition had been weaker, I’d bet pretty sweet on
him, but on seasonal reappearance in a competitive handicap, I will have to
reign it in slightly.
There is a good card at Kempton
today and I suggest punters to watch closely as I think there are a couple of
maidens and novice races which could work out well. Frankie goes to Kempton for
Galsworthy for the boss John Gosden. If you read the mainstream tipping sites,
you’d think this horse has a penalty kick here but the handicapper has only
rated him 80. The Glancing Queen will catch many people’s eye but the
favourite’s stablemate, SWIFT VERDICT has
caught mine. By Dubawi out of Just The Judge, an Irish 1000 Guineas winner, he
is bred to be pretty good and has a price tag to match. I’m not sure on the
jockey arrangements but if Frankie was jocked up on this one I’m sure the odds
would be the other way around. If Gosden has this one tuned up enough I think
there could be an upset on the cards, I just hope the 8/1 that is around at the
time of writing hangs around until you guys are able to get on.
Newcastle 1.55 – Custodian – 2pt win
Kempton 4.30 – Swift Verdict – 1pt e/w
