The 3.15 at Newbury looks at the mercy of Couer Serein but at the prices you couldn’t be rushing in to back him. I quite like SANTON at the prices and the step up to 3 miles should bring about plenty of improvement. I tipped him the last day but he never looked happy over 2m 5f but stayed on well and he looks the typical Trevor Hemmings type who should relish 3 miles. I’m sure he will prove better than his current mark in time but I hope he can start scaling up the handicap ranks today.
Newbury 3.15 – Santon
Saturday
PRESS YOUR LUCK broke my heart last week when brought down at Kempton when I was sure he was about to hack up. I immediately made a note that when entered into a handicap, his mark of 129 should be exploitable. I didn’t expect Chris Gordon to enter him up just 7 days later but I think that’s a sign of the confidence he has in the horse and I too have plenty of confidence in him. He is a point to point winner who performed very well over 2 miles in the Autumn before being unsuited by softer ground in a hot race at Ascot. I expect him to improve a great deal for the step up to 2m 3f here and at 20/1 he rates a strong each way bet.
Just 35 minutes later I have another strong fancy in the shape of KILMINGTON ROSE. I wouldn’t be surprised if her master trainer has had this race in mind all season after a couple of conspicuous runs. She came into the season as a horse to follow and showed up well at Chepstow before not reaching those heights again. The handicapper has allotted her a mark of 113 and I will be astounded if she doesn’t prove to be better than that now faced with good ground.
The flat is back and the Lincoln looks as competitive as ever. I could make a case for a few of these but one is just jumping out the page at me and that is HAQEEQY. I love seeing John Gosden runners in handicaps as most tend to be group horses masquerading as a handicapper but the case for this selection is boosted by Benoit De Le Sayette’s 7lb claim. From what I have seen of young Benoit so far, he is very good vale for that 7lb and such a claim in such a tight handicap might just make all the difference and it certainly makes this unexposed horse look well weighted. He’s a short favourite for such a competitive race but he might just be a good thing.
Newbury 2.50 – Press Your Luck
Newbury 3.25 – Kilmington Rose
Doncaster 3.10 – Haqeeqy
