Andy Holding is back with three tips for today's action.
15:25 Market Rasen
Ooh Betty sets a good standard with her tremendous effort in a quality Class 2 event at Lingfield last time out (demoted from first) but if any horse can do a whoopsie in her garden (one for old school Frank Spencer fans!), TWYFORD’S DIAMOND (best price 12/1) might be one capable of springing a surprise.
Disappointing when not seeing out 2m5f at Hereford two starts ago, connections took the decision to take on the boys and drop her back to the minimum trip at Newbury last time out and having raced just behind the leaders throughout, she kept on well in the latter stages to finish a respectable fifth to Be Aware (unlucky not to win since).
In what turned out to be the best speed figure on the card that day, Ben Pauling’s mare ended up easily posting her highest rating so far to date and with the potential of more to come now she’s in the zone, she looks booked to outrun her morning odds hailing from a stable that can do little wrong at present.
15:40 Taunton
A decent quality handicap that brings together several solid form lines but with the strong possibility that INTO THE PARK (NAP) (best price 7/4) has the most potential to improve on what he’s achieved so far to date; Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s gelding is fancied to back up that view.
Going back to his previous third behind Joyeuse over today’s course, it’s interesting comparing that novices’ hurdle to the handicap which saw Inca De Lafayette and Vicki Vale finish first and third respectively and based on the data available, the son of Walk In The Park comes out really well on all fronts. In a race that produced a slightly better over speed figure, he also ran the last circuit 4.2 seconds than those in the 2m3f handicap, numbers that strongly hinted he’s not short of pace.
Making all at a modest tempo at Newbury last time out, once again the five-year-old exhibited a nice change of gear when threatened from three out and in winning by an eased down eight lengths, he left the impression there was plenty left under the bonnet if required.
Additionally, it was good to see the fourth horse from the Berkshire heat win easily at Kelso last week and off a workable opening mark of 120, big things are expected from him on handicap debut.
