Good morning all,
So much on over the next few days, today looks like a day of writing but then it's Uttoxeter (Ladies Day, fast becoming my Mastermind specialist subject) and then, excitingly, working in the ring at Ascot Saturday. Hopefully a better experience than the last time we went to Ascot when we took 20-odd bets in three races and packed up.
Anyway, I don't think I'll be able to make Worcester today bar a miracle this morning (i.e, there's only about 40 runners at Uttoxeter tomorrow and it takes me just a couple of hours to sort through them at 10) but I have had a look at a card not without some interest.
In the opening chase at 1.50, it's all about quantity not quality and to me, it's a case of either backing Oscar Lateen or leaving the race alone.
The thing with Oscar Lateen is that I've always been a fan of the horse, you could see he had talent in his days with Sandy Thompson but his jumping held him back. I always thought he would make up into a nice 120-rated chaser, so the fact he's here off just 81, having his first run for Dan Skelton, with the cheekpieces on, makes him look mighty attractive. He could take half these fences home with him and probably beat this lot if Dan has got him anywhere near right. Of course, the flip side is that he could now just be totally soured at the game and jack it in again, but I'm willing to take the risk.
Happy to give the 2.20 a swerve, it may well be a Dan Skelton double with Firmount Gent but at the same sort of price as Oscar Lateen he makes far less appeal as a moderate pointer. However the 2.50 throws up an interesting one in Rif Raftou, who was mentioned in the last Worcester report as one to keep an eye on. He travelled well that day and may have needed that run, his first for over a year, as he got tired late on. If he comes on from that he's got chances here, and I'll have a small e/w bet this morning.
No interest in the next at 3.30, too many of these are well handicapped and guessing which one wins makes little appeal. And in the novice hurdle at 4.00, there's no bet but I will be watching Breaking Ground carefully – no doubt he will throw it away by jumping violently out to his right again, but he gets a mark after today and if they then switch him to a right-handed track (and possibly some headgear) I could be interested, as he does seem to have a bit of ability.
Happy to let Monbeg Legend win without my money on, he's one I like a lot but he did make hard enough work of it last time out, despite the official comments saying otherwise. I just think he bounced after his Southwell effort and I expect him to win here. But at 4-6, not a bet.
I was all for giving Marais a go at a big price in the next at 5.05 as his form here last year when second to Hey Bill has worked out okay, and fresh might just be the time to catch him, but he's a non-runner in the last few minutes so we will have to wait for him another day. And so to the last where I have to throw a couple of quid at Buckontupence at a daft price. He's got more letters than numbers next to his name but that doesn't alter the fact he would probably have won at Fakenham two starts ago had he not unseated Emma Yardley at the last. He threw the towel in again at Stratford last time but he can't possibly be a 50-1 chance on the Fakenham run in a race this weak so, if he's on a going day he could go close.
Today's selection – Rif Raftou 2.50 Worcester
Good luck with all your bets today,
David