An all-chase card at Leicester with conditions described as a mix of good and good to soft although there looks sure to be some softer patches around the bends.
Skinflint (1.20) finished second four times in five starts over fences for David Pipe and returned from a two-year absence to fill the runner up spot at Uttoxeter over hurdles for Henry Oliver last month. The selection – 9/2 with MansionBet – has been raised a couple of pounds for that effort but that run should have blown the cobwebs away and Johnny Burke keeps the ride.
The stable have not had a winner with their last 32 runners and this inmate looks a candidate to bounce, but he travelled like a very well handicapped horse at Uttoxeter and do note the winner Immortal Fame was due to run at Doncaster on Tuesday. Whilst the selection has now finished runner up in five of his last six races under rules, it should be said that he did win three of eight starts between the flags.
David Bass is not riding at Leicester – may or may not be suspended – but I do think first time out might be the time to catch Kim Bailey’s Shanacoole Prince (2.20) who has such a good record fresh and whose record on a right-hand track under rules reads 12. He finished second to Glajou on good ground – not good to soft – at Southwell on his reappearance last season and can race from an 8lbs lower mark this afternoon. There was 6s freely available on Tuesday morning but he is 4s with 10Bet at the time of posting.
Robert Havlin was briefly denied a run at the crown of the final bend at Wolverhampton last time aboard Rockfire (3.05) who is bred to be better than a 65-rated animal. He is one of two well bred colts in the field – other the Johnstons’ Flash Mob – and one would imagine it won’t be long before either or both are gelded. The selection – 10/3 with 10Bet – is the brother of an all-weather winner over 12f, and I thought the colt appreciated the step up in distance to 9.5f last time. He should het 12f in time but today’s trip of 10f looks fine at this stage of his career.
Bass Straight is reunited with George Bass – who else? – and she ran a decent race when fourth over C&D here at the weekend. She looks the main danger to the Gosden colt.
