Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I’ve highlighted a couple of potential future winners for the tracker. Plus, I like one at Wolverhampton this evening.
Future Winners
With no eyecatchers from the weekend’s action (for obvious reasons), I’ve looked back to New Year’s Day for this week’s picks.
First, one who missed the cut but is worth noting for a return to Musselburgh next month: Boomslang. This progressive chaser added to his Carlisle win with a strong success at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day. He’s likely to be aimed at the Scottish Champion Chase over the same course and distance.
Now, for this week’s two tracker horses, both of whom ran at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day:
Midnight River – Dan Skelton
Midnight River hasn’t hit top form in three starts this season, but his 5th of 8 to Springwell Bay at Cheltenham hinted at better to come. The 23½-length defeat may look underwhelming, but he wasn’t subjected to a hard race and was weak in the betting for an event he won two years ago.
Dan Skelton is a trainer who excels at targeting specific races, often with cash backing in tow. Midnight River has now dropped 3lb below his last winning mark, suggesting he’s being lined up for a valuable pot in the spring.
Deep Cave – Christian Williams
Deep Cave, a French recruit, has caught the eye in his last two Cheltenham starts, despite unfavourable race setups. Most recently, he finished 5th of 9 to Stracken in a three-mile handicap hurdle. A steadily run race exposed his lack of pace at a crucial stage, but he rallied well to finish just over seven lengths behind the winner.
A more strongly run three miles will play to his strengths and can be placed to winning advantage. I expect Christian Williams to find the right opportunity for Deep Cave when the yard’s in better form.
That wraps up this week’s future winners segment for another week.
Tuesday Racing
I must be mad, but I quite like one in a Class 4 sprint handicap (7:00) at Wolverhampton this evening.
Wolverhampton
7:00 – Looking at the early bird betting, it’s no surprise that both Tiger Crusade and Monsieur Kodi are prominent in the market for this Wolverhampton sprint handicap. Tiger Crusade was a solid ¾-length 3rd of 10 at Kempton 20 days ago. He runs off the same mark here and drops two notches in class, which makes him a strong contender. Monsieur Kodi, meanwhile, ran a good second at Lingfield 16 days ago. With a decent pace, he’ll likely be in the mix again.
Lir Speciale hasn’t hit top form since joining Stuart Williams last year. That said, he returns from a 122-day layoff, has won off a longer break in the past, and gets a first-time visor. Now 9lb below his last winning mark, he could be a lively contender. On a personal note, I’m a Racing TV Club member, so I have an ownership stake—albeit alongside thousands of others!
However, the one I quietly is Power Over Me. The 8-year-old had a mammoth 40-month absence before reappearing for a new yard at Kempton two starts back. He was understandably uncompetitive there, but his 2½-length 6th of 12 over C&D last time out was much more promising. Before that effort, he was unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance, and he’s been dropped 3lb for tonight’s run. The bookies aren’t taking any risks with him, and I expected odds longer than 13/2.
In Wednesday's column I'll look ahead to Saturday's at Warwick. Mind you given the weather forecast and the state of the ground at Warwick it may be a waste of time.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets!
John