Placespotter - Bangor On Dee 3.20 3 Barton Gift 12/1 / 7 Saroque 6/1 - both each way
Placespotter -: not often you get to tip a horse BARTON GIFT you've met and got to know well,
due to our Racing Club association with the Spearing stable, I have met this old boy a few times,
he is quirky and can gets spooked by his own shadow, for that reason he runs well when left alone
in medium sized fields, but he is a lovely strapping Chaser and is part owned by the legendary
Mercy Rimmell, trained of course at Kinnersley where her and husband Fred were the champion
Trainers of their day. Barton Gift is an out and out stayer, he loves Bangor and with just 2 exceptions
is the only horse in the field who is proven at the trip. A Course Distance winner he is 6lbs above
his best winning mark but in fine form and with many of his rivals going in to virgin distance territory
at the 3 mile pole, I can't not tip him. Gavin Sheehan rides him today, he gets on best with Andrew
Thornton, no longer available, and lets hope Gavin gives him a more understanding ride than
AP Heskin did last time, some horses you need to understand and not just thrape to death!
The other selection is Saroque, the form of its penultimate race v Gonalston Cloud at Market Rasen
looks solid now in terms of form, it has more stamina evidence than many of the others with the
exception of Godsmejudge and Wellforth, who could feature if it turns in to an absolute slog.
Of the others Bears Rails and Wood Yer will be big dangers, but I have always seen proven stamina
and Course form as the two most vital ingredients in staying Chases, so am happy with the selections.