Friday, 18th March 2022
Connections of Jersey Bean are not messing about….
They’re not waiting to see how the weather and the ground play out at Uttoxeter. They’ve already decided the going won’t be good enough for their lad in tomorrow’s Midlands Grand National (3.35) and they’ve pulled him out….
It’s disappointing – but not the end of the world. And the first thing I’d say is that this horse is worth monitoring this spring….
He hasn’t run since November and they’re clearly waiting for genuine good ground – showing today that they’re not prepared to waste their horse on anything less than ideal going….
I reckon they’re serious about landing some decent money with the 9yo at a trip and they don’t want to risk leaving anything on the table. It’s a positive sign in my book. Put Jersey Bean in your tracker….
He was my main fancy for tomorrow’s race but in his absence I’m going to back ACHILLE instead at the general 18s….
Venetia Williams has been in fine form this week and whilst Achille is older than ideal what he lacks in youth he more than makes up for with his very lenient – you might say generous – mark. He is weighted to outrun market expectation….
He was 6th in the race last year beaten just over 6-lengths – a performance that ranks as his joint best ever over fences….
He was running off a mark of 142 that day. Tomorrow he runs off 130 with a 3lb claimer in the saddle – and sporting first-time blinkers which could well spark big improvement….
Yes, he’s out of the handicap to the tune of 3lbs but I’m not too worried about that given he’s a horse that’s been falling down the handicap rather than rising up it. On his best efforts he’s got enough in hand to overcome being 3lb wrong at the weights….
He hasn’t quite hit his straps this term. But he’s run better than the bare form suggests in some of the good handicaps he’s tackled….
He’s one of those horses that’s been given a real chance by the handicapper’s new strategy of getting non-winning exposed horses down the handicap quicker – and we’ve seen one or two of those come good at big prices this week at Cheltenham….
A mark of 130 makes Achille dangerous – and with firms paying out on 6 and 7 places he’s one that makes each-way appeal….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 7. William Hill are 1/5 the first 6. It is 1/5 the first 5 and 1/4 the first 4 generally….
Nick’s Dark Horse….To recap on my idea of the dark horses capable of running big races at tasty prices in the big handicaps tomorrow afternoon…. In the Midlands Grand National (3.35 @ Uttoxeter)….
Advised prices are correct at the time my column is submitted for publication. But prices are subject to fluctuation. There’s nothing I can do about that. Be sure to consult Oddschecker – you may find a quote better than advised…. |
That’s all for today. Back next time. Meanwhile….
Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Stay tuned.
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