Friday
I was quite impressed with how CONCETTO ran at Ludlow last time and I think the form has a strong look to it so I’m keen to side with him today at Perth. Oliver Greenall wasted no time at all sending him over fences after he first qualified for a handicap mark and he won his first two chase starts very easily before bumping into Latitude at Ludlow last time. The pair pulled clear of a half decent field and I suspect both will be two young staying chasers to follow.
I was keen on DEERE MARK last time and he travelled into the race like he was a good thing but he stopped very quickly which suggested something must have been amiss. Obviously it was nothing too serious as he reappears after a short break at Chepstow this evening and this race represents a big step down in class. If he is fit enough then he has the form in the book and also the potential to be a lot better than these.
Saturday
You wouldn’t be able to rule out Kitty’s Light tomorrow at Sandown as he is quite a remarkable horse but at 7/2 he is skinny enough to be backing just 7 days after a big effort in the Scottish National. It’s the end of a long season for a few of these so you will need a relatively fresh horse and one who stays longer than the Mother in Law. I’m hoping MORODER is a live outsider after he got back on track in the Grimthorpe last time out. He was progressive last season but returned this time around with a couple of underwhelming efforts before he then won the Doncaster showpiece. This looks an open race if the favourite does bomb out and I’d be willing to take a chance on Seamus Mullins‘ charge at a decent price.
Up at Haydock the flat season makes a return and although most of the races aren’t really betting races for me, I am quite interested in the 3.45 where I fancy a couple to outrun their odds. First up is BOARDMAN who is a classy performer on his day given the right conditions. He likes to come off the pace so therefore needs a good pace to run at but the long straight here at Haydock has helped him before and I fancy it to play to his strengths again. At 8/1 he looks a tad overpriced having had a couple of runs already this season. Further down the market Julie Camacho has an interesting runner in the shape of TACTICAL who would be a lot shorter in the market if still in the care of Andrew Balding. His form over 6f/7f is rock solid and although most of the form has come at Ascot, I would again be hopeful that the long straight here could play to his strengths. At 25/1 he is a really good each way bet.
Sandown 2.15 Moroder
Haydock 3.45 – Boardman / Tactical
Perth 2.05 – Concetto
Chepstow 7.00 – Deere Mark
