Navan 1.35

Placespotter - Thurles 1.35 3 Cappacurry Zak @ 8/1 / 14 Simple Steps @ 9/1

(1/4 point each way with all Bookies odds to 4th and SkyBet odds to 5th)

Clearly stamina is going to be key in heavy Going and Course form in Ireland is always an asset, we look too for some

unexposed horses from the always and increasingly relevant Point 2 Point fields. I will keep banging on and on about this

but P2P is proper racing over fences in poor ground and is a far better proving and experience gaining medium in my humble

opinion, than the glorified Flat races called NH Flat/Bumper Racing where they tend to dawdle for half the trip and then have

a burn up for half a mile with not a single obstacle in sight. I again liken it to a young footballer, playing full pace against

hard men in lower leagues, benefitting a lot more in learning, than by playing reserve football in front of empty seats at walking

pace, and we will continue to look for and try to exploit P2P form, which is readily accessible, if you know where to look.

The favourite here is Dinnies Vinnie, looks very short to me based on being a very inconsistent horse and 18lbs above a

Course and Distance win here. The other well backed is Milanesque, the form looks decent, but on seasonal debut and up

12 pounds since its last CD win, another who I am looking to oppose. From the P2P field we have a few dark horses and the

likes of Red River Gold would be the one I fear the most, one for a tricast perm if you want to play that angle.

I think Capture The Drama is still a little high in the weights; Erkindale Lady has a recent win but has a poor record here

at Thurles and therefore not great value at the price; Leaders Choice, I would give an outside place chance to; and the

biggest danger and final one off my list was WITNESS OF CHOICE, a seasoned veteran who can be a big danger if

getting in to a nice rhythm off the front; he and Red River Gold would join my two selections in any Tricast Perm.

The selections are CAPACURRY ZAK who has good Course form, form on the Heavy Going; proven stamina for the

trip and who runs off a very competitive mark; unlike a couple of the other market leaders, at 8/1 with the enhanced

places, looks really solid value. My other selection is SIMPLE STEPS; also ticks all of the right boxes here; trip; ground

and mark all look very solid and has the added benefit of a relatively low weight, which will help in the mud.