Our resident tipster has two to start the week.
15.45 Fontwell
If the betting is anything to go by, only three count here, and of the trio concerned, MELLOW BEN (NAP) (best price 10-3) makes the most appeal at the prices. Other than the hood not working on his first start under rules, his two other performances have been perfectly respectable given the strength of the opposition he’s been facing and his latest effort at Newbury certainly reads on paper in context of today’s race. In a contest run at a proper gallop at the Berkshire track, Chris Gordon’s gelding kept finding for pressure all the way down the long, home straight and in finishing a creditable fifth to Nicky Henderson’s useful recruit, Pacific De Baune, there are plenty of positives to be taken from a display of that nature. Runner-up in his only start between the flags, one would imagine a step up in trip this afternoon would suit and hailing from a yard whose runners always have to be feared at today’s track, the son of Beneficial should be capable of putting up a bold show.
18.15 Wolverhampton
It’s been a while between drinks for BERLUSCA (best price 9-2), but David Loughnane inmate hasn’t been running too badly of late and this is the first time he’s ever raced against Class 6 opposition so he’s simply got to be given the utmost respect. A useful old warrior for David O’Meara on his day, most of his best performances in the past have taken place at today’s venue and the nine-year-old rolled back the years on his latest start just five days ago when he was a creditable runner-up to the bang-in-form King Kevin. In a race run at a sound clip from the start (good overall and sectionals for the grade), the son of Holy Roman Emperor got a lovely trip throughout and just when he looked as though he got the race in safekeeping with a decisive move at the two pole, along came Ed Dunlop’s charge to pick his pocket in the shadows of the post. Rated in the mid-80’s in his pomp, his current mark of 62 is clearly within his capabilities despite his advancing years, and if he can be held on to a little longer and produced late, his win count at the Dunstall Park venue could easily move to eight.
