Good evening folks
Just the one further bet goes at Bangor, in the hope we have at least 1 selection to cheer on. That track probably has the best chance of racing taking place but lets hope the good looking card at Newbury beats the weather as I fancy ours a lot there. Nothing more this evening, I will reevaluate where we are in the morning once I know what’s what and dependent on which, if any, racing goes ahead, take another fresh look to see if I can unearth any selections. I will send out the usual update either way.
1:11 Bangor
THUNDERCLAP – 3/4 Pt Win 6/1 Bet365, 11/2 generally
This 5 year old son of Night Of Thunder seemed to improve with each start over hurdles last season, ending with victory at Sedgefield in April at the fifth attempt. He should be very competitive now switching to handicaps against this lot and his trainer does well with his debutantes in this sphere (2 of his last 4 have won!)
The booking of Stan Sheppard looks a shrewd move as he is in red hot form (30% Win SR last 30 days) which improves further to an impressive 46% in handicap hurdles so I thought he was well worth chancing here.
1:40 Newbury
OFF TO A FLYER – 3/4 Pt EW 35/4 4 places Bet365, 17/2 4 paces Livescorebet, 15/2 4 Betfair, 9/1 generally
Badly hampered after travelling well on his comeback at Cheltenham, his previous win at the endo of last season was very strong form. He won easily and the 2nd & 3rd that day both won their next 2! It is his run against The Carpenter at Exeter that stands out for me as he was narrowly beaten by that Henderson hotpot who is now rated 134. Off To Flyer races from bottom weight here off just 120 with progression surely a given! Indeed in a recent stable tour the trainer stated he was going chasing and was very well handicapped so it is interesting that they choose to run in this valuable handicap hurdle off that mark. Tizzard & Bowen have a brilliant record together in handicaps at this track (3 from 7 which is 1 from 1 in hurdles!) so all in all I expect a bold showing from this lightly raced son of Shirocco.
2:15 Newbury
BAD – 1/2 Pt EW 11/1 Unibet, 10/1 generally
In the past 5 years, Ben Pauling has only ever had 5 runners in handicaps over this trip gaining 2 winners & a 2nd and took this very race with Global Citizen. This horse has been shaping well and the stable target this meeting so an each way bet in a tough looking race but I have him up there above most of these on my figures. Trainer states below:
“He is a horse that came over from France and I chucked him in at the deep end in the Boodles at Cheltenham. It just didn’t work out that day and he was beaten 12 lengths. He then went to Ascot and had no luck in running. He is a horse I really like and he’s not huge but has a great attitude and I think he will win lots of races this season”
2:50 Newbury
STOLEN SILVER – 1 Pt Win 16/1 William Hill, 14/1 generally
MIDNIGHT RIVER – 1Pt Win 12/1 William Hill, 11 & 10/1 generally
Stolen Silver was largely campaigned at around 2½m as a chaser last season, running some crackers always staying on well. He had no problem with step up in trip when making winning return at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) in October, storming clear and eased close home. 7 lb higher now but that may not prove his limit now upped further in trip and this 8 year old has the right sort of profile and style of racing to go very close here for his on fire yard.
Midnight River, a very smart handicap chaser enjoyed a fine 2022/23, improving for the step up in trip when registering third success of the campaign at Aintree (25f) in April. Feasible to think he’ll be sharper for his Charlie Hall reappearance third 4 weeks ago and he’s of real interest here. In fact, he has a superb record next time out after being beaten (won 7 from 10 attempts!)
He has Graded Handicap form that ties in closely with Stolen Silver so again, this prominent smooth traveller looks sure to go very well and can provide his trainer with back to wins in this prestigious contest.