It's Cheltenham eve, but that hasn't stopped Andy Holding liking the look of this duo.
14.20 Plumpton
There’s no denying that Myplaceatmidnight sets a decent standard courtesy of his excellent effort in a hot handicap at Wincanton last week, but as Neil King’s inmate had a hard race and all his best form has come at the West Country venue, he might just be vulnerable at a short price and ALRIGHTJACK (NAP) (best price 11/4) could well turn out to be the joker in the pack
An easy winner of a bumper at Fontwell last season, Jamie Snowden’s gelding didn’t really cut much ice on his hurdling debut over a sharp two miles at Wincanton, but faced with a much stiffer test when the emphasis was more on stamina at Lingfield last time out, he turned out to be a totally different proposition. Relishing the testing conditions at the Surrey venue, the son of Stowaway ran out a ready winner over several promising types, and with the time figure backing up the visual impression of the display, it’s safe to say he’s now beginning to realise his potential. Almost certain to improve even more for today’s step up in trip, the five-year-old rates the value call at the morning odds.
15.10 Stratford
SHOW ON THE ROAD (best price 9-4) shaped with conspicuous promise over hurdles at Wincanton last time out and he’s fancied to build on his two encouraging performances on his previous outings over fences.
In a keenly-contested handicap run at the West Country venue 23 days ago, Philip Hobbs’ gelding ran better than his final finishing position suggested when staying on nicely into fifth without being unduly punished and that effort should set him up nicely for the remainder of the campaign. Prior to that useful performance, the son of Flemensfirth was noted going well just in behind the pace when clipping heels and taking a nasty tumble in a race that was eventually won by Siruh Du Lac and that might have been one of the main reasons why connections plumbed for a confidence booster last time out.
It’s also worth pointing out that his eight-length third behind the likes of The Russian Doyen (rated 141) and I’m A Game Changer (139) reads well in the context of today’s race, so off a fair mark of just 125, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be going close in a race of this nature.
