Thursday, 9th September 2021
The 3yo and 4yo horses have won nine of the last ten editions of the Mallard at Doncaster (Friday, 3.15)….
But with no 3yo runners in tomorrow’s field of 13 – and just a trio of 4yos going to post – it could well turn out to be one of those instances where what looks like a solid field-splitting stat gets turned over by virtue of happenstance….
UBER COOL – my pick for the race at the general 9s – is a 7yo now. Most years, trend-slaves would automatically put a line through him. But he’s no typical 7yo….
A 959-day absence from the track between October 2018 and May 2021 means Jane Chapple-Hyam’s charge has only raced 16 times under rules. As 7yo horses go, Uber Cool is at the progressive end of the range! And he certainly hasn’t disappointed since returning to action….
He won on his return at Chester under returning rider Robert Tart – who himself hadn’t ridden in a race since 2017. He went up 5lb to an official rating of 92 for that and subsequently placed in another handicap at Ascot – this time at Ascot – before running in a Listed race back at Chester….
The terms of that race were not to his advantage. He was giving weight to higher rated horses and more weight than would be the case in a handicap to horses similarly rated. That being so, he ran a decent race to be just 1.5 lengths in arrears to the winner at the post….
Back in handicap company, the terms will be more manageable. He stays the trip; he’ll handle the quicker ground better than most; and a mark of 92 gives him every chance of landing this contest. The 9s about him this morning is fair enough….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet & William Hill are 1/5 the first 5. You can get 1/5 the first 4 and 1/4 the first 3 generally….
Nick’s contrarian picks….To recap on where my idea of the value lies tomorrow afternoon…. In the Mallard Handicap (3.15 @ Doncaster).
That is my take on where the value lies – but you will no doubt have your own ideas and that’s exactly as it should be. |
That’s all from me for today. I’ll be back tomorrow. Meanwhile….
Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Until next time. Stay tuned.
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