Taking on another odds on shot, but this time it looks even harder because it's not just the Willie Mullins' favourite to worry about but the 2nd fav Lau And Shaz also has a good chance. The race looks between these 3.
My selection Clongorey, a 4yo, has had two runs, both in maiden hurdles and now runs in a bumper for first time. She finished 4th both times, last run looks poor at first glance as she was beaten 40 lengths but the clear winner may turn out to be decent. Clongorey's time was only 1.9 secs slower than the winner of 0-95 handicap hurdle on same card, so I don't think the run is as bad as it looks. Having said that she still needs to improve, but I am hopeful.
Form of debut run worked out well, with the 2nd & 7th horses winning maiden hurdles next time, and there have been 3 other winners come out of the race.
I am not sure about the conditional jockey as he doesn't have a great record, would have preferred Jack Kennedy to stay on it, so that's a bit of negative.
The favourite Bold Suitor looks way too short now, so I think there is value in opposing him, and Charlatan is one of those that look capable.
He won 3 weak class 6 handicap/classified stakes start of year. He ran four times on turf during the summer without success but was not fancied in market for most of those. He still placed 2nd last twice and from 3 lbs lower than at start of summer, so interests me on this return to all weather (3 wins from 5 races on AW compared to 0 from 7 on turf).
.
He hasn't had a lot of exposure to this course, just one run here finishing 3rd of 8. Although he needs to improve on that as that was off 8 lbs lower it was his handicap debut and first run after 8 months off, I think he will like this course.
Course & distance winner H Key Lails looks a danger.
Made her debut on soft going, and ran well to finish 3/10, so today's testing conditions should be ok. Yet to finish out of first 3 in any of her 5 races, and although gone up 2 lbs for finishing 2nd last time, that looked a stronger race. Down in class, I am hopeful of a good run. Trainer does quite well in nurseries and had another winner 3 days ago.
Last two bets, Charlatan (5/1) finished tailed off last & Lovely Spirit (7/2) finished 2nd of 5.
Bet #25 - 6:00 Wolverhampton - Souffionne, win bet
A risky one as the selection does need to improve having been beaten 6 lengths here three weeks ago in a weaker race. But with the original favourite out, it looks an open race and at a double figure price I feel Souffionne may represent a bit of value.
Hopes for improvement hang on the first time blinkers, trainer's horses often improve for them. And although Ali Rawlinson has never ridden a winner for Palmer (0 from 4, all priced 18/1 or bigger), I still feel it is an interesting jockey booking. Overall, Rawlinson has quite a good record when riding horses for the first time, and also he has a good record in head to heads against most of the jockeys in this race.
Selection's form is nothing special but at least he is still unexposed, and has run well at this course (over further) from 15 lbs higher earlier in the year.
Last selection Souffionne (14/1) finished only 8th of 10.
Bet #26 - 4:08 Aintree - Kapability, win bet
Newcomers take up top 3 spots in the market, and it's one of these that I am siding with. Kapability's sire Authorized has a 24% strike rate (19 from 78) on NHF debuts for LSP of +12. Among all stallions with 150+ runs in NHF races, Authorized has one of the highest win rate for individual winners.
Owners, the Cheshires, have had some good horses (all of them with Chris Gordon) including 2 winners (Leave Of Absence & Presenting A Queen) and 2 placed (20/1 & 40/1) from just 10 debuts in bumpers in last 5 seasons. As far as I know, this is their first runner with Anthony Honeyball, who has a better record than Gordon in bumpers, and booking of Cobden looks a positive.
2 of the 3 runnings of this race with 1 lb wfa allowance have been won by the 4 year olds. The race won by 5yo only had three 4yo s in it. Claim Du Brizais, another 4yo, also has a good chance, but I feel Kapability offers better value.
A risky one today, and it's a much bigger price, but I am hoping it will run well. Moonhall Church is one of only 3 in this nursery to have ever won a race. That win came in a claimer at Fairyhouse last month. She has contested 3 strong handicaps since the, first two were higher class and she finished down the field. Even last time out at Dundalk that was a stronger race (0-83) than this, and although 6/14 she was only beaten a length. This 0-72 where she is the top weight, looks much easier race and should go close providing she handles the testing conditions.
Her sire Churchill gets good results with his 2yo s, and has had 17 2yo winners in last year at a good strike rate. Don't know a lot about the trainer as he has only been training for a year, this was his first 2yo winner. Hopefully the quick turnaround of 10 days since her last run won't be a problem.
Moonhall Church (25/1) finished 5th of 16, not a bad run considering the price but no returns.
No bet today, I had been considering one in 2:44 Dundalk but the price doesn't make it worth risking now. Zabeir was heavily gambled last time from 25s down to favouritism but failed to place, finishing 7/14. The money has come for him again this morning (15/8 from 11/2), he is certainly handicapped to win and this is an easier race but with a record of 1 from 18 it would seem crazy to get involved at such a short price now so i will just watch. At bigger prices, one of the handicap debutants Profit Surge could have place chances but not too confident of that either.