Some nice unexposed types in here and a few who look to be running in to form and a few who may not be as exposed off their marks as the market maybe thinks they are.

 

At the head of the market Greenock Abbey for Kerry Lee is a 3 mile P2P winner upped in trip but so far hard to see why it's the price it is here although clearly this is the ideal trip for it, Onthebandwagon makes its handicap debut for Jonjo, could frankly be anything but not great value at the price I don't feel.

 

There are plenty of dangers like Dr Des, a runner up at Uttoxeter last time for the Bowens who seems to run its best races there, Fortyfivewest for Dr Newland who makes its handicap debut and cleary has untapped potential and Pottlerath who is very consistently and places with regularity, deserves to win one of these but this is a deep race that could throw up some very solid formlines. Blumen Glory is another consistent type who finds placing apparently easier than getting its head in front and I have doubts about the trip here in what should be a truly run race with such a big field.

 

Banana Joe represents the upwardly mobile Mel Rowley yard, one of the successes of the NH season and this 3 mile P2P runner up showed up well placing on Handicap debut at Doncaster and made a shortlist of 5 in my final analysis. The other one to be left out off that list was Auerenwibel, tipped by us and finishing 3rd and 2nd the last twice, I just had the feeling those races may be better opportunities than this deeper one..

 

Shot Ball on handicap debut and upped a mile in trip could be anything literally, and a few others could nick a place but I am most confident at the prices of the following three.

 

PUZZLE CACHE won for us at Exeter in December when we pin-pointed the win mark of 85. It gets the trip, likes a bit of cut and if getting in to a rhythm can stay on all day down this long straight and nick an enhanced place at least. It runs off 89 here and I think the market sees that as too high, however it's last 2 wins off 85 have had a 3lbs Claimer up but today an excellent 7lbs Claimer rides. my mathematics tells me therefore it runs off the same adjusted mark as those last 2 wins and at the price worth a small e/w investment.

 

TRIXSTER went in to the TRacker after its last run and the Yard is in better form now than it was then. It looked like a horse ready to win, trip and conditions look ideal and this is a drop in Class and really no excuses for not delivering a place at least. 

 

TO BE SURE from the Evan Williams yard with Adam Wedge, for many the rider of the season so far in the saddle, won here in a Class 3 race in November off a mark of 102 and previously won a race at Hereford off the same mark. Its also eased slightly in Grade and has enough scope dropped in Grade to think that a mark of 105 is well within its capability range and I like it a lot.

 

 

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Another very competitive race.

 

Brooksway Fair who travels well but soesn't always find too much is upped in trip and it will be interesting to see if that helps it. Powerful Position for Christian Williams won over Course and Distance off a mark of 83 but has somewhat blotted his copybook by falling and unseating the next twice. In a big field here at the price I really want to see a clear round before investing to be frank.

 

Son of Oz has some potential and scope and will be a danger and Mr Katanga who drops in trip will have plenty of support given local connections for Rebecca Curtis. Hatchet Jack gets first time headgear and a few glimmers of form suggests it could improve for them whilst Gold Clermont (who is in our Trackers) is another who ideally we want to see cut out the sloppy jumping and get a clear round in. When he does he remains one to follow very closely.

 

We tipped JURYS OUT when he ran poorly last time but he should be fit now and with Charlie Deutsch in the plate we have another jockey like Wedge at the top of his game and a better run is expected. KESTRAL VALLEY for Matt Shepherd also looked to be running in to form last time, it drops in trip slightly, runs off a nice mark and gets the capable assistance of Sam Twiston-Davies who you'd suspect will want to run fairly prominently and strike for home early in the home straight. I also expect a better run from HAND TOUGH another who went in to my notebook as one ready to win now race fit after a decent effort last time, that run ties in with Son Of Oz who would be my reserve if any of the selections are non-runners.