130 SANDOWN
BETTING FORECAST: 4/7 Optimus Maximus, 11/4 Amore Mio, 10/1 Benedict Spirit, 12/1 Forget It, 25/1 Purely By Chance, 40/1 Double Parked.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Benedict Spirit and Forget It have fair Flat form and the former has won twice on Fibresand this winter, so they are not entirely ruled out, but OPTIMUS MAXIMUS and Amore Mio set a decent standard on their hurdling efforts last time out and it looks worth sticking with the Henderson runner after his impressive Newbury win on soft ground |
Soft ground to contend with as well as only 2 horses to place over jumps. But only 2 sub 10/1 in the betting forecast and mirrored in the live betting market 1.15 to place
145 WETHERBY
BETTING FORECAST: 11/8 River Shanakill, 5/2 Luccombe Bay, 3/1 Stick Together, 10/1 Stormy Waters, Tastes Like More, 20/1 Crow Spinney, 200/1 Miss Tosca, Oyashshecan.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Stick Together is a potential improver now raised in trip but so is RIVER SHANAKILL, who was much too good for the Jefferson horse when they clashed at Newcastle in November and, having been granted an entry only this week for one of the novice events at Cheltenham, she's clearly not lost the faith of her connections, despite an odds-on failure last time. 8 runner field with 2 clear outsiders and 3 under 10/1 BUT Tastes Like More now 7/2 as I write - why the discrepancy between betting forecaster and live market? River 1.41 Luccumbe 1.48 TAstes 1.66 Stick 1.83 All relatively big place only prices |
155 DONCASTER
BETTING FORECAST: 9/4 Copper Bleu, 5/2 Master Of Arts, 7/2 Marc Aurele, 5/1 King´s Forest, 12/1 Fassaroe, 14/1 Burnt Oak, 25/1 North Parade, 100/1 Bold Adventure, Newgate.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Copper Bleu looks the best of the three previous hurdles winners but he faces no easy task under a penalty against a couple of interesting hurdling newcomers from top yards, MASTER OF ARTS and Marc Aurele. Sir Mark Prescott's stable has been an excellent source of hurdling talent down the years and Master of Arts, now with David Pipe, could well turn out to be smart. He's given a narrow vote ahead of his ex-French rival. |
Fassaroe is out and 3 are 50/1 or over. Copper Bleu's price has been clipped and he looks solid at the head of the market in what looks a 4 horse race with Burnt Oak on the fringes 1.18 to place
205 SANDOWN
BETTING FORECAST: Evs Celestial Halo, 7/4 Osana, 9/2 Afsoun, 20/1 Alph, 50/1 Dusky Lord, 100/1 The Big Orse.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Afsoun made a step back in the right direction last time but should be outgunned if either Osana or CELESTIAL HALO (nap) are near their best. In receipt of 4lb and following a most encouraging reappearance, the 2008 Triumph Hurdle winner has to be the choice |
Again 2 the place but only 3 sub 20/1 and Celestial HAlo now odds on for Ruby and Nicholls 1.22 to place
245 LING
BETTING FORECAST: 8/13 Theatre Street, 5/2 Under Review, 8/1 Theta Wave, 16/1 Alimarr, 33/1 Countrywide Jaime, 50/1 Thoosa.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Market confidence behind newcomer Under Review with Jamie Spencer booked would be significant in a maiden with no strength in depth, but THEATRE STREET sets a a fair standard and can make it third time lucky. |
A 5 furlong maiden - yikes
3 sub 20/1 in the live market with the race looking a toss between Theatre and Under with Theatre odds on and Under clipped into 7/4 ( 6/4 in places) Under review is a maiden with Spencer on board
1.2 and 1.4 to place in an illiquid market
420 SANDOWN
BETTING FORECAST: 3/1 Killaghy Castle, 4/1 Good Company, 11/2 I Hear A Symphony, Lorient Express, 13/2 Almaydan, 7/1 Oneway, Vinmix De Bessy, 25/1 Nikola, 40/1 Sou´Wester.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Killaghy Castle and Vinmix De Bessy have obvious potential to outperform these handicap marks but GOOD COMPANY has shown already this term that he is on his way up the ladder and is taken to follow up his win on soft ground at Haydock.[ |
Good company now 2/1 with Oneway out - the McCoy factor? 1.56 to palce - a big price in what the betting forecast indicates is a tight race
ONE A DAY
Very tricky today for me with a lot of apparent good things in 2 the place races in soft ground over the jumps. hardly ideal and "nailed on" One fall and you're out of the game.
Also you need to be spot on with only 2 places
Celestial Halo looks standout today at the prices - 1.22 in what looks a 3 horse race. The only hope is the horse stays upright.
There are niggles in the other races
145 WETh - market mover may be accurate or misleading - we don't know - place only prices are relatively big here too
155 DON - Copper Bleu under a penalty in soft
245 LING - 5 furlong maiden with a newcomer attracting interest - only 2 places
420 SANDOWN - despite the McCoy factor, this is a tight race if the betting is anything to go by