More winners for Andy yesterday and he's got three to get stuck into today.
2.00 Newcastle
JAN SMUTS (best price 14-1) had cuts and bruises on his knuckles, so hard had he being knocking on the door prior to ending that frustrating run here last week, and with that deserved victory under his belt, it should have given him the requisite confidence to score again. Held up off the back of strong fractions, Wilf Storey’s charge gradually worked his way through the field to hold every chance two out and with a long withering run down the outside, he wore down his quarry in the dying strides. Although he’s dropping back in trip here, he has got plenty of previous solid form over shorter and in a race where there looks to be plenty of pace on, his stamina should turn out to be a very potent weapon in the latter stages.
3.20 Hereford
MONEY MAID (NAP) (best price 4-1) gave backers of well-fancied Two Smokin Barrels more than several squeaky bum moments at Wetherby last time and with nothing of that quality up against her on this occasion, Graeme McPherson’s inmate can gain just rewards for that promising and slightly unlucky effort 15 days ago. The only one to keep tabs with Michael Scudamore’s in-form mare in the latter stages of a well-run affair, the daughter of Blueprint may have landed the spoils had she not walked through the last fence when challenging and as she gets to race off the same mark this time around, she makes plenty of appeal to take advantage of the handicapper’s leniency.
6.15 Kempton
SPRING LOADED (best price 6-4) posted a superb set of numbers when scoring with ease at Wolverhampton last time out and he’s strongly fancied to follow up despite the lurking presence of all-weather giant Pretend in the field. Much improved last winter, Paul D’Arcy’s charge has continued on his upward curve in recent times and following an encouraging performance from a terrible draw over tonight’s C&D two starts back, he added to his already impressive set of all-weather figures with another victory at the Dunstall Park venue on Boxing Day. Arguably even better over tonight’s course – as form figures of 121112 testify – the son of Zebedee has nothing to fear on all known form.
