Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Opposing the favourite....

The last race of the day Lingfield brings Andrew Baldings Holbeck Ghyll back to the racecourse after an absence of 194 days. He finished last season with 3 straight wins and has been installed as favourite for today's race. I believe there are strong reasons to oppose him today, these being.

  • Lack of a recent run - his three wins last year came in the space of 9 days. He has a poor record fresh.
  • His three wins came on tracks with an incline all the way to the line - the track at Lingfield wouldn't be ideal.
  • He has a tendency to hang a little right in his races - a big negative at Lingfield.
  • No all-weather form - his only attempt, he finished last at Wolverhampton.
  • His 3 wins came in my opinion quite weak races.

For those reasons he must be opposed today - the strongest reason his tendency to hang slightly right - which at Bath, Salisbury and Sandown isn't an inconvenience - but at a sharp left-handed Lingfield could be a massive negative.

I'm going to take him on with two runners. Firstly Poker Player, who has been crying out for a drop down to five furlongs - his run last time at Wolverhampton was an improvement on his previous efforts and another furlong drop should be in his favour. Seb Sanders has been booked to ride, if he sets a good even tempo either in front or just behind Tartatartufata he could nick this and I'm very hopeful of a return on the place side of the bet at 12/1

The other is the tough and consistent Mambazo who likes to come off the pace and has a decent draw today in stall 2 after three poor draws in his last runs at Wolverhampton. The quicker they go today the better for him and there is likely to be a decent gallop guaranteed.

Suggested Bet:

5.20 Lingfield

1pt E/W Poker Player

2pt Win Mambazo

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