Not the greatest race with only four-runners lining up after the withdrawal of Cash Man, the form must be treated with some caution. It is a tight betting heat and the suggestion is not to get too heavily involved as each of the horses have more than one reason to highlight them as a possible winner.
Forecast favourite Manbow is a regular at Wetherby and made a pleasing reappearance in March having disappointed before that when running in November. At 11-years-old, he is getting no younger but there is reason to believe he is down to an attractive handicap mark having won off higher in the past. Also, he has a nice weight on his back of 10st 7lbs, which should not be too much of a burden. His trainer Micky Hammond has his string in fine form and has had a couple of winners in the past two weeks as well as many placed horses to add to those successes. He has Graham Lee in the saddle and he gets a good tune out of him, having partnered him to all five of his career wins. The ground should be perfect for him as he is usually preserved to run during the summer months and if he can build on his last run, he should be in the firing line late on.
Our Jasper has been on the go for a long time but is an admirable sort and should give his running again. He looks likely to trouble the favourite most but needs to put a poor run last time out behind him if he is to feature. That came at Bangor over this distance and he struggled to land a blow throughout having made a serious blunder mid-race which may have unsettled his rhythm. He is habitual front-runner and he will attempt to burn all his rivals off under Jason Maguire, however; it will be no easy task as he must shoulder top-weight over a distance which may not suit him as he usually races over shorter trips than this. Trainer Donald McCain had three winners on Friday and this grey looks sure to run his race on ground that suits.
Mandingo Chief steps up in trip for Brendan Powell in hope that he can re-discover some form. He has been out of sorts of late and has not won for three years, suggesting he must perk up his ideas soon. He is another who is down to a good handicap mark having been in the grip, but now he has relented at least Mandingo Chief has a chance. The return to good ground will help as will the services of Wilson Renwick, who will earn his fee riding this tricky customer. He has to improve if he is to win this.
Benny The Piler is the outsider of the group but he is a lightly-raced nine-year-old who will definitely get this long trip. It is the first time that Denis O'Regan will ride him and his handicap mark of 112 looks fair. Martin Todhunter is a good trainer of staying chasers and this one looks no expection, even though he must overcome a lay-off of four months if he is going trouble his more-fancied rivals. He is another who will appreciate this quick ground and looks the one open to most improvement.
Selections: 1st - Benny The Piler, 2nd - Manbow.
Result - 1st - Mandingo Chief, 3/1, 2nd - Our Jasper, 5/2.
As stated beforehand, this race didn't look great and this was proved right as the field finished well strung out towards the end. Mandingo Chief won with some authority under his composed jockey as he was eased down to a comfortable 25 length success. He was always in front rank and when Benny The Piler began to toil, he quickly asserted to continue his trainer's good run of form. As soon long as the handicapper does not take this win literally then he could well win again soon on ground similar to this. Benny The Piler looked the most likely winner turning for home as he was travelling kindly for Denis O'Regan and he had the remainder under pressure as his jumping took lengths out of them. However, when he was five lengths clear, when he should have kicked on and won the race, he seemed reluctant under pressure and that allowed Mandingo Chief to swoop past and clear away. Benny The Piler looked likely to grab second but it looked as if something went wrong before the last and he was pulled. If none the worse for his exertions, he could win a small race like this as he looked a good jumper, which counts for a lot in this grade. Our Jasper ran on to get second but ran a very laboured race for Jason Maguire and he was been pushed along with a circuit still to go. On occasions his jumping let him down and he deserves a rest now. Manbow ran a very disappointing race considering how well he ran last time out. He jumped the first two well but after that he seemed to lose interest and was given reminders before Graham Lee had to get to work for the most of the journey. He is a troublesome character and looks one to avoid in future.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment