Liam Firkin picks out two long shots in the Cambridgeshire Handicap this weekend.
15:40 – NEWMARKETSee All Odds
ASMEN WARRIOR – 0.5 Pts EW @ 33/1
PAROLE D’ORO – 0.5 Pts EW @ 50/1
I am playing two in this huge field handicap on the Rowley Mile track at Newmarket for this weekend. One has been a winner for us earlier in the season in the form of the James Owen trained Asmen Warrior. I’ve already outlined this time of year being lucrative for the Owen team but there were comments after his success on the July course from the trainer that he felt the horse could go on a progress further. ASMEN WARRIOR was slapped with an 8lbs rise from that win and he was a little disappointed when last seen at Ascot but if bouncing back there’s enough substance in the form from this season to suggest there could be further improvement.
Adversaries from both Epsom and that sole win have since gone onto win with Dangerman scoring at Sandown and Tawajjah winning on his next start before placing at Newbury and if James Owen’s string of horses are about to hit peak form, and the signs are positive with 4 winners and 8 places in just over a week, then it wouldn’t surprise me to see Asmen Warrior bounce back.
My second selection is a horse who continues to be extremely frustrating given the ground he concedes in the early part of his races and I’ll be praying for a level break in this on Saturday. The nature of this race may set up nicely for the Michael Bell runner though with plenty of pace during the race which will allow Parole D’Oro to get into top gear and no doubt thunder home at the backend of the race.
He has run well at this course on two occasions previously with a second place and a fourth to his name and a return to Newmarket, although on a different track could see him to better effect again. He has 3lbs claimed in the saddle from newly crowed Group winning jockey Jack Nicholls and this would round off a special seven days for him should he land this prize too. I wouldn’t have Parole D’Oro as big of a price as this and being towards the bottom of the weights gives him every chance.
