Friday
I was very sweet on the chances of HEROS DE ROMAY last time out and was disappointed he could only finish 4th that day. Looking back I think it could have been quite a hot race to make your chase debut in and he did show up well for a long way. Had he not walked through the first up the home straight he may have finished closer anyway so I am keen to give him another go. He lines up at Uttoxeter today and the forecast soft ground should suit so I am expecting a big performance back in a lower grade.
Uttoxeter 1.30 – Heros De Romay
Saturday
BIG GINGE can count himself quite unlucky not to have won last time out at Sandown but he might have just bumped into one. He should put the experience to good use however and I think he will be very hard to beat in the opener at Hereford. He gets a stone off his main market rival which should just about make him a good thing in my eyes.
FAMOUS BRIDGE defends his Tommy Whittle crown tomorrow and he looks to have a great chance of doing so despite top weight. He is only two pound higher than when he won last year and I’d argue this is a weaker renewal than last year. The soft ground poses no worries and I think he could be one of those horses who simply gets better with age so I can’t see why he shouldn’t be winning this off 138.
It might be worth monitoring the betting at Ascot tomorrow to see if any money comes for FLEGMATIK . The Skeltons are definitely lining him up for a big pot somewhere and after having run well in this last year this might have been the target. Off 134 he is certainly handicapped to win again and given the depth of this race he lines up off a low weight. If he’s fit enough he shouldn’t be far away. If he isn’t ready for tomorrow then TRELAWNE looks the obvious play to me. He should appreciate the step up in trip having only run over 2m 4f over fences so far (fell at the first at Cheltenham over 3m) and I make him the favourite here so an actual price of 9/2 third favourite looks a tasty proposition.
Hereford 11.58 – Big Ginge
Haydock 2.05 – Famous Bridge
Ascot 3.00 – Flegmatik / Trelawne
