Time control won after a stewards enquiry but a win’s a win! Nightjar 2nd at 9/4, and BAzergan won at 8/1 (the number of days off must have put punters off!)- the bar steward! Buddhist Monk – I was right to be wary of newcomers here but he wasn’t beaten by the obvious one
435 CHESTER
BETTING FORECAST: 5/4 Full Toss, 3/1 Cosmic Sun, 4/1 Layer Cake, 7/1 The Kyllachy Kid, 12/1 Aladdin´s Lamp, 33/1 Nut Hand, 40/1 Bounty Reef, 100/1 Piccolo Express.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Cosmic Sun – holds The Kyllachy Kid on latest running – is overdue a change of luck but he may well come off second best for the fourth time with FULL TOSS having probably the better form and being the more likely of the pair to improve
First 2 in the market have had a string of seconds in this maiden which augurs well for place only backing.
Full toss is the obvious candidate
700 MR
BETTING FORECAST: 4/5 Shore Thing, 3/1 Bethanys Boy, Simba Sun, 14/1 Parkview Love, 50/1 Crosby Jemma, Feeling Peckish, Government, 100/1 Hallys Goal.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: SHORE THING appears to be over the problems that held him back last season and his recent hurdling form sets the standard here.
Hurdles event – obstacles to overcome – reasonable price gap bt looks a 3 horse race here which is a good thing I suppose if entertaining the place on Shore thing
300 NA
BETTING FORECAST: 13/8 Supreme Being, 4/1 Anticipating, 7/1 Jacaranda, 8/1 Lesdream, 12/1 Caretta Caretta, Disco Queen, 14/1 Chunky Lad, Heir To Be, Orchard Glow, 20/1 Shanahan, 50/1 Oxybau, 100/1 Rules Apply.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Anticipating looks clear best of the home-trained runners but he’s not the most resolute and it can pay to pass him over in favour of Irish raider SUPREME BEING, who has fairly useful form and has plenty more in his favour, not least the assistance of Tony McCoy
Selling hurdle here does not fill me with confidence – why are they running in sellers? ….
405
BETTING FORECAST: 4/7 Dark Energy, 5/1 Strong Survivor, 8/1 Party Palace, Ryedale Ovation, 16/1 Bond Cruz, 20/1 Raise Again, 25/1 Keyneema.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: DARK ENERGY hardly broke sweat in cruising home at Huntingdon in the week and, with John Kington’s claim going a long way to counterbalancing the penalty, he looks a good thing to go in again.[
Novice handicap hurdle with a claimer on board the favourite – eye catching price gap though BUT only 2 to place in this sub 8 runner event leaves no margin for error for place backers
440
BETTING FORECAST: 7/4 Yellow Flag, 5/1 Spiritual Society, 6/1 Star Of Germany, 7/1 Blandings Castle, 8/1 Et Maintenant, 10/1 Cheeky Lad, 14/1 Smoke Trail, 16/1 Rooster´s Reunion, Wild Power, 33/1 Kova Hall.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Yellow Flag could be a vulnerable favourite off his revised mark and there are some appealing alternatives. Smoke Trail hinted at a return to form last time and is back on the right ground but also interesting after a break is course specialist BLANDINGS CASTLE (nap), who has run many of his better races when fresh
Another handicap and a good price gap ( drifted in live market though but so did that 8/1 winner yesterday!) Has won 3 on the trot so unlikely (from a sequence perspective) to win again. Place material? I don’t know if the added weight may catch him out
510
BETTING FORECAST: 13/8 He´s The Gaffer, 4/1 Bandearg, 5/1 My Skipper, 10/1 Even Flo, 12/1 Gunnabelil, 14/1 Three Lions, 16/1 Cornish Flame, Lets Get Busy, Palace Walk, 20/1 Rich Nomad, 33/1 Bobsleigh, 50/1 Wee Danny, 66/1 Dunbell Boy, Zuleta.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: He’s The Gaffer is a handicap snip on his recent chasing exploits but he has been a costly failure in the past over hurdles when seemingly thrown in and is taken on with BANDEARG, who shapes as though the longer trip could be in her favour.
A handicap with another who has woin last twice and now 3 miles 3 furlongs over obstacles – surely there’ll be better alternatives?
210 RIPON
BETTING FORECAST: 7/4 Prime Mood, 4/1 Paddythefish, 9/2 Holberg, 8/1 Bajan Tryst, 10/1 Mary Mason, 14/1 Arteus, Royal Salsa, 16/1 Shaker Style, Tee Gee Cee, 25/1 Sampower Quin, 50/1 Embsay Crag, Eyesore, Lady Zena, 100/1 Venetian Lady.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Unless there’s a wave of confidence behind any of the newcomers this looks best left to PRIME MOOD, who remains a colt with potential despite his shock failure at Musselburgh
7 newcomers here in this maiden who , as in Buddhist Monk’s race, we simply don’t know how they will perform
Plenty of potential and perceived price gappers here, but I think a bit of weeding out is necessary
Full toss would be the selection today for place only purposes – everything else has obstacles to overcome or appear in races where there are niggles.