One bet, one win, a nice way to enjoy a relatively modest day of racing, as cancellations due to weather continue. ASSIMILATION however, did everything we said he would, he hung back slightly off the pace and was presented at the straight. A great ride by Luke Morris who knew the tactical ride of Sky Defender would not suit the favourite, Power of States allowing Morris on the bend to position Assimilation out in doing so, it was clear his pace was going to be used to great effect.
A lovely return for us at 8/1 on the outsider of four runners.
Total P&L : 44 points profit (since 2 January 2021)
Onto today, sadly we lose the card over at Wetherby but Fakenham and Southwell provide us with a few races, Class 3 or above.
Southwell (All-Weather)
13:10 – Zylan, at 9 years old, won over course and distance last time out only 8 days back, he is arguably the best drawn horse in the race, coming from stall 3 and towards the bottom of the weights, the horse has a 50% strike rate at the track, with Roger Fell and Tyler Heard combining with a 30% strike rate over course and distance. An obvious selection at the prices and hoping father-time does not catch him today.
Zapper Cass is another small play simply being the wrong price, when one considers the consistency of his performance in 2020 (from a speed-figure perspective) and at the course last time out when finishing second to our other selection Zylan.
ZYLAN 13/2 1.5PT EW
ZAPPER CASS 18/1 0.5PT EW
14:45 – Fabilis, from Frankel, is well fancied, performing at Class 1 company when seen last-time out at Newmarket in October, this will be his first run on the all-weather, if he takes to it, he should hose-up against all of these. However, he carries 9.4.
Apatite for Michael Appleby shouldn’t on ratings get too close, but he is a consistent all-weather horse, who got his head in front at Newcastle last time out in a Class 5, he is stepped up into Class 3 company today and is weighted a full stone and more better off than the favourite by the handicapper, to step up two classes, means someone thinks something of him, he is a small play as again the wrong price.
APATITE 13/2 1PT WIN (no EW as only four runners)
Fakenham
13:23 – I personally enjoy these odd times for races, anything to allow the fixture list to be less congested and of course it limits clashes. WHITLOCK for Nicky Henderson catches the eye, winning last time out at Lingfield on their National Hunt Flat card, he may finally be turning a corner for Nicky (after historically being a flat horse, trained by John Gosden). I accept when two master trainers have the yards they have, they will have some duds, but as with the prior race, to send him to Gosden and then Nicky means someone thinks something of the horse.
Whitlock should be expected to take up the running alongside the favourite, Sheldon (currently 6/4) and it should not be forgotten Nicky has a near 40% strike rate in Maiden Hurdles.
Handsome Samson, trained by Richard Spencer should never be 50/1 at the time of writing, hence he cannot be avoided.
WHITLOCK 8/1 1PT EW
HANDSOME SAMSON 50/1 0.5PT EW
13:55 – The favourite, Golden Whiskey sets a very good standard, winning well on Heavy at Ludlow last week. If he is anything like his form last week, where he won by 16 lengths, this could be a foregone conclusion.
That being said, I like the chances of Shanacoole Prince and Aintree My Dream, the former was pulled up at Newbury before the turn of the year but looked very impressive after nearly a year out when finishing second at Southwell, he carries 5 pounds less today and should be a danger for the in-form Kim Bailey and David Bass yard, no doubt still riding the high after the success of First Flow (a selection) at the Clarence House on Saturday.
Aintree My Dream, is a cracking old warrior and showed plenty to like at the turn of the year at Sandown, finishing second on soft over distance.
I would expect Shanacoole Prince to make the running with Aintree My Dream tracking the favourite throughout, let us hope as we get to the last few fences both of ours are giving the favourite something to think about.
SHANACOOLE PRINCE 7/1 1PT EW
AINTREE MY DREAM 15/2 1PT EW
Horse Racing Selections 