Andy was in great form yesterday and he has four bets to end a busy week.
3.10 Worcester
FOREVER MY FRIEND (best price 4-1) thrived off a strong pace when scoring at Stratford last time out and with likes of Such A Legend and Foundation Man in the line-up, Peter Bowen’s inmate should get a similar set up here again today. Despite the small field at the Midland venue, there was certainly no hanging around and in lowering the colours of the in-from Altepix, who travelled like the most likely winner throughout, the 10-year-old still proved he has the heart for a battle even after a career spanning 55 races. Although the King’s Theatre gelding got beaten fair and square by one of today’s rivals, Definite Future, the time before, he clearly improved for that outing subsequently, and having already proved himself around this C&D many times over, he rates a sound-looking each-way bet providing the dead eight go to post.
3.40 Worcester
Going into his latest encounter at Hexham, SURF AND TURF (best price 5-1) wasn’t in the sort of form that suggested he was capable of winning in the devastating manner he did, but providing he’s in a similar mood, there’s a decent chance he can do so again. Off the track since October, Richard Hobson’s inmate took advantage of a lenient hurdle rating by slamming some in-form rivals without ever coming off the bridle and with his confidence sure to be sky-high following that sort of romp, an 11lb shouldn’t be enough to stop him performing to a similar level because he has won off a mark of 140 over fences in the past.
3.50 Hexham
Now that DESERT ISLAND DUSK (NAP) (best price 7-4) has established his wellbeing, Maurice Barnes’ charge rates a confident choice to score again at his happy hunting ground. A real summer-jumping exponent, the six-year-old gelding has also taken really well to today’s stiff course – as form figures of 1121 testify – and arriving here off a smooth performance in victory last time out, there’s more than a fair chance he can defy another rise in the ratings. The way he moved through that contest 22 days ago before sealing the deal with a nice change of pace going down to the last suggests he’s right on top of his game at present and even though he faces a rival in the shape of Vercingetorix who could be dangerously well handicapped having scored readily on the Flat recently, hopefully his superior track knowledge will count heavily in his favour.
4.35 Gowran
NIMITZ (best price 4-1) has been steadily improving along the way and following several performances that have suggested his winning turn isn’t too far away, today could well be the day he strikes gold. Charles O’Brien’s inmate showed a little of promise in maidens, but he’s really come into his own since tackling handicaps and following a sound runner-up effort behind Sweetasever at Navan two starts ago, he ran an even more encouraging race at Leopardstown last time out. Finding himself last turning for home at the Dublin track, the son of Casamento finished strongest of all down the outside to capture third late on and as it’s often difficult to make up ground in the short straight there once out of position, his performance deserves upgrading. Although he faces one or two fairly useful sorts here this afternoon, he’s certainly shown enough to suggest he should be capable of holding his own and this tall, lanky three-year-old can finally start to fulfil to potential.
