The favourite Robyndeglory looks easily the most progressive horse in the race and if you want a win saver in the 5/2 - 3/1 range then I would not put you off as I think 3/1 would represent excellent value.

 

There are a few at the top of the market whose price based on perceived potential looks very skinny to me of which possibly Hardwired from the Ted Walsh stable has the most long term potential and that's one for your Tracker notebooks.

 

I think there are though 3 very well handicapped old favourites of ours at big prices who with the benefit of a run all have a chance of a place at least.

 

SPANCIL HILL won for us over Fences at this time last year and is adept over Hurdles too if not quite as good. It ran recently at Wexford finishing 4th of 14 and should come on for that run. The Chase wins were off marks of 99 and 107, and if you go back to the last solid Hurdles form in 2020 then placed runs at Punchestown (5th) and Galway (3rd) off a mark of 95 make the mark today of 94 with a 7lbs Claimer look very appealing.

 

This is a quirky track with a steep climb in to the back straight and then downhill to the final turn and the experience and proven form the horse has makes me feel anything around double figures is a very appealing value price.

 

I also think that HALF SHOT who has had a run and may just need another could run a place if the younger horses fail to fire. It has placed here not too long ago off a mark of 100 over 2 miles and 3 furlongs and is decent enough off this trip, indeed this track seems to deliver it's best recent efforts and with that run off a mark of 98 with a 5lbs Claim I think it can beat more home than finish in front of it.

 

The same may apply to TRICKEY TRIX who had a pair of placed runs early in 2021 off marks around 106 and 107, it ran particularly well in the Autumn of 2020 winning twice and placing off marks of 93-99 and 100 and a drop in trip with the 7lbs Claimer bringing the mark down effective from 102 to 95 with the Claim puts it back in the the kind of handicap territory that it has delivered from before. One I'll have a nibble on today but definitely also keep a very close eye on too.

 

TIP - Spancil Hill / Tracker - Half Shot / shrapnel (Trickey Trix) - I'll have a Tricast perm on those 3 and the favourite too

 

----------

 

At Ayr in the 1.05 it's interesting that Brian Hughes picks Three Castles but also notable how well handicapped ARDERA CROSS now is and a small shrapnel bet may not go amiss.