There’s something for everyone in the racing today. Up in Scotland, there’s the Scottish Grand National at Ayr whilst down at Newbury, there’s the Greenham, a Classic trial, as well the Spring Cup, a big field handicap. It’s the last of the 3 we’re focusing on today as well as a lesser race over at Nottingham this evening.
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3.40 Newbury
Like the Lincoln, this is a Class 2 handicap over a straight mile and it normally attracts a big field, like today. The market is headed by Chelsea Lad who narrowly failed to make the cut for the Lincoln and he was very well supported for that race. The big question mark is his absence and whether he’ll be “spot on” now after having to wait 3 weeks more to make his reappearance.
Donncha is a very consistent handicapper and should run his race again but he has a career mark to overcome whilst Banksea is a big danger if getting the gaps but is yet another on a career high mark despite not winning last time out. There are several others with good chances but we’re drawn to a horse at a big price.
Another Touch – Hails from a top yard who has a liking for the Spring Cup as his trainer has saddled the winner 3 times in the last 8 years. The selection is a 4 year old with 3 wins from 15 runs including 2 in this grade, albeit not off a mark this high.
He was progressive last term with a win off 92 and 2 close up 2nds off 92 and 94. His mark today is 96 but he looks capable of defying it as he has his ideal conditions today; flat track, straight mile and fast ground.
The key is definitely the ground. He has raced in 10 handicaps and only 2 of those have had any firm in the going description. He’s won 1 and finished 2nd in the other. A further 3 have been run on good ground, and he won 2 of those too. He was 5th in the other but he has the worst of the draw and that run can be significantly upgraded. Lastly, the other 5 have had soft in the description and his form reads 2-9-7-8-0.
Admittedly, he was disappointing in the Spring Mile but he’d only just come back from Dubai and connections joked he may have had jet lag! It’s easy to forgive that run anyway because of the ground and he’s a horse that people were talking up before that disappointing run.
All this means he’s now trading at a big looking price and, despite the competitive nature of the race, he should run a massive race and is worthy of a bet.
Tips
PLACED – Back Another Touch (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 26.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (¼ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
7.30 Nottingham
A 14 runner Class 4 handicap around the turning 1 mile and it normally pays to sit quite handy here. The favourite is Roller who won a handicap earlier this week but he’s been raised 6lb for that run and 5/2 looks a short price today.
It looks a very open heat and we’re taking a chance on one at a big price showing the promise he showed in his younger days.
Gambit – On recent form, he has no chance but there are plenty of reasons to think he’s ready to show something. He’s now a 4 year old and his only run as a 2 year old looks poor on the book but he actually stumbled badly when making similar headway to the now 110-rated winner. He then opened up his 3 year old campaign on the all weather and trotted up by 8 lengths. That run put me in the Derby picture and connections were toying with running him but it all went downhill from there.
Let’s not forget this is a Class 4 handicap, not the Derby, and Gambit has a lowly mark of 76 today. He’s shown very little since and his mark has dropped 13lb in the last 12 months. He has been tried over a variety of trips, from 6 furlongs up to 12 furlongs.
On his final run of last year, he ran over 6 furlongs at Windsor and ran well for an awful long way but was outpaced and probably needed a stronger pace. He reappeared at Doncaster over 7 furlongs and again showed up well for a long way. It is likely he needed the run and should strip fitter here. In addition, the faster ground should suit.
He may be better around a turning track like he has today and, assuming he retains his old ability, he could spring a big surprise here.
Tips
Back Gambit (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 William Hill BOG (¼ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
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