I
have quite a few fancies throughout today and have found no less than 5 tips on
a busy day up and down the country. I’ll start at Donny where I quite fancy APOLLO ONE to outrun his odds in the
3.45. Peter Charalambous isn’t known for his sharp two year olds but this horse
certainly breaks the mould. A winner at Newmarket on debut, he went off
relatively unfancied for the Solario Stakes when he set what looked like a good
gallop and only got passed by two smart ones late on. That is rock solid form
and he comes here the second highest rated, with this in mind I don’t know why
he is 12/1.
Across
to Chester now where I do like a few. FIrst up is PRAISE OF SHADOWS who looked a smart type when hacking up here on
debut. He then went on to contest the Acomb but had no cover and ran his race
in the first 2 furlongs rather than the last two furlongs. That can be easily
excused and back down into nursery company today I think he has a brilliant
chance of regaining the winning thread. Marco Botti and Harry Bentley have a
good record when teaming up and they both boast strong records on the Roodee.
CHICHESTER has a very pronounced knee
action and would have found the firm ground unsuitable last time out at
Windsor. With plenty of juice expected to be in the ground today at Chester I
think he can finally get his head in front. His season debut resulted in a
close second to Yes My Boy (now rated in the 90’s) and that is good form.
Chichester goes today off a mark of 78 and if he doesn’t end up being a better
horse than 78 I will be amazed. Sir Michael Stoute has a fantastic record at
Chester and can enhance that here.
Some
horses just love Chester and LINCOLN
PARK is certainly one of them. He saves his best runs for the Roodee and
this unique track certainly seems to spark him up. He has ran two nice races
here this season against two handicap blots and if putting in a similar run
today, he should be going very close.
I
think the handicapper has missed DUBAI
WELCOME today at Sandown. An opening mark of 85 does look on the lenient
side given he split two very nice horses rated 96 & 94 last time out at
Kempton. Yes, they were giving him weight that day, but they pulled 8 lengths
clear of a horse rated 86 so on the bare face of that form, I think he has a
pound or two in hand. He runs in a competitive handicap at Sandown today but I
don’t think many of them are hiding too much from the handicapper and he must
go there with a great chance.
Doncaster 3.45 – Apollo One – 1pt e/w
Chester 2.55 – Praise Of Shadows – 1pt win
Chester 3.30 – Chichester – 2pt win
Chester 4.00 – Lincoln Park – 1pt e/w
Sandown 4.05 – Dubai Welcome – 2pt win