Onthesteel's Blog

Saturday 24 April 2010

A brilliant day’s racing today at Sandown and a special bet at Ripon….

2:50 Ripon – Select Committee  @ 4/1: just a whisper that 50p ew might be required on this one. My sources remain anonymous, don’t they Mr Nichols? Actually,  has an excellent chance despite being weighted to he apparent best. Ran eyecatchingly on his reappearance and runs again off the same mark. Has work to do to confirm form with bottom weight and last year’s winner, Kyzar Chief, who IS well weighted, but since when have horses ever followed the formbook?? Ground and trip are ideal and, what is particularly in his favour, is that the stable are in excellent form. Bet to nothing for eachway punters but let’s be brave and put a whole pound FOR THE WIN! (Isn’t that what the young people say nowadays?)

1:00 Sandown – Striding Edge ew @ 11/2: Selected this last time and ran on all too late over Windsor’s swift mile. Would have won with another half a furlong that day, I am sure.  Is dropped a pound, which can only be in his favour and the stiffer uphill test will suit him much better.

1:30 Sandown – Petit Robin @ 5/6: Even at a shade of odds on, this looks like a licence to print money (assuming he gets round). Is a very smart 2 mile chaser and over fences would have these for breakfast. However, he is equally smart as a hurdler having not been beaten far by Khyber Kim at Aintree last time. He has at least a stone in hand on official ratings and with Henderson and McCoy teaming up, it all looks good for a successful season finale. Would prefer softer ground but has form on good to soft and his class should see him overcome that slight inconvenience.

2:00 Sandown – Mous Of Me ew @ 9/2 and Mohanad ew @ 25/1: Mous of Men has all the hallmarks of a Pipe plot horse and is a relatively confident choice to place at best. He won this race in 2008 off a 2lb lower mark, showing he handles both the course and the quicker going. Ran poorly on softer ground off a much higher mark on his reappearance this year  after a lengthy absence but then respectably on 2 goes thereafter. Back on quicker ground and competitive mark, he should now be spot on for a big run. Mohanad is an interesting one at the bottom and is a massive price in my opinion. Has inexperience to overcome but his juvenile form looks pretty strong. he won a decent novice hurdle prize at Kempton with the runner-up going in since. He then ought to have won his next race but was badly hampered twice in the closing stages and still finished 3rd beaten less than 2 lengths behind Nicky Nutjob in a Class 1 Listed event. Has had a spin on the flat since to put him right for this and gets in off bottom weight and a fair handicap mark of 117. I think he could be a 130 rated horse in time. Sire loved this fast ground so that shouldnt bother him.