Good ground is forecast at Uttoxeter and in the opener Captain Tom Cat (12.15) is taken to go one better than when runner up at Southwell for Dr Richard Newland. The third horse home – Ashutor – franked the form when scoring at Newton Abbot over further last week and the winner – Sangha River – is still potentially very good. The selection is 6/5 at BetVictor.
Dan Skelton’s Seeusoon is held by the selection from Southwell earlier in the month and a bigger danger might come from the Charlie Hills’ trained Bumper winner High Change who has yet to fire of timber but does have ability.
I am not convinced jockey David Bass was at his best at Southwell on Tuesday where he and Station Master failed to see eye-to-eye at a number of fences. I hope he can get a better tune out of winning pointer Arthur’s Sixpence (1.15) who certainly has the scope to jump a fence and ran a good race when runner up at Newton Abbot from this mark last May. He is a big unit to get fit first time out, but he has run well fresh in the past and 5/1 with bet365 is a fair ew price.
Oxwich Bay has always threatened to win races and a 7lbs penalty for last week’s win at Newton Abbot sees him 3lbs “well-in” as the handicapper has seen fit to raise him 10lbs. If in the same mood he will be tough to beat but I hope to see Kim Bailey’s six-year-old, make a winning reappearance.
Magellan (3.15) failed to get home over 3m at Southwell earlier in the month and the handicapper has certainly taken a chance by dropping him 3lbs for today’s two-and-a-half-mile handicap given how well he was travelling at this distance. This strapping son of Sea The Stars – fitted with a tongue tie for the first time – was rated 90 on the level and can run from a mark of 104 this afternoon over hurdles. The 7/2 with William Hill was too big but 3/1 is still a fair price.
Over at Sandown and my love affair with Magic J has finished and a 3lbs rise for finishing runner up at Wolverhampton last time looks harsh. Watch him dot up in the 5f handicap, but it will be just that for me – a watching brief.
In the finale High Wells (8.00) can go one better than when second at Haydock over 2m having his first start for Graeme McPherson from a 2lbs lower mark. The winner – Solo Saxophone – has since scored at York and the selection should not be inconvenienced by the return to 14f this evening. Shane Kelly took the ride at Haydock and is back in the plate tonight. The 5/1 available on Wednesday looked a fair ew price.
There are two listed races – also one at Sandown – at Hamilton this afternoon including the 12f Glasgow Stakes where I hope to see Subjectivist (3.00) go one better than when runner up at Haydock over an additional quarter of a mile. The selection was badly hampered at the first turn last time and in the circumstances did very well to be beaten just a length. Joe Fanning looks sure to make it a good gallop dropping back in trip, but I hope he can make every yard for Mark Johnston. The 2s with bet 365 is too big.
Johnston saddles the likely favourite Old Harbour in the Mile handicap but I hope he helps set the race up for Amber Storm (3.30) who was a fluent winner at Musselburgh over 7f last time and is bred to be even more effective over this extended mile. An opening mark of 78 looks workable.
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