Saturday, 21st May 2022
The best race of the weekend for handicap fans is actually delivered tomorrow (Sunday) – in the form of the Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap at York (5.35)….
A maximum field of 22 runners will go to post and slug it out up the 6f straight….
The front four in the market, won, placed or showed-up strong in the recent Churchill Tyres Handicap run over course and distance. It makes sense – and it’s entirely predictable – that plenty of punters would want to back those horses….
But simply regurgitating what the market thinks is not my job. My role – albeit self-appointed – is to dig out a dark horse that the market might be overlooking at a price….
AVA GO JOE fits the bill in tomorrow’s race – up at 18s & 16s….
He started his 4yo campaign in striking fashion by logging back-to-back wins and career-best RPRs over 5f at Beverley and Ripon – and rising 7lbs up the rating scale to a mark of 87….
He wasn’t able to make it a hat-trick last time at Hamilton – and he’s down a pound to 86 for that run – but it’s but it’s way too early to start writing him off and he’s a candidate for swift bounce back….
Tomorrow’s extra furlong will suit. He’s done most of his racing at the minimum trip and is pretty much unexposed at 6f. That said, when he has gone over 6f he’s gone well….
Not least when 2nd to Bergerac at York last September in a 3yo handicap that’s produced its fair share of subsequent winners….
And – of course – you can never dismiss his handler in big handicaps run at York. At the recent Dante meeting Tim Easterby produced two handicap winners….
It’s often a case of figuring out which Easterby horse will be ‘live’ on the day – and Ava Go Joe is the one for me in tomorrow’s race at this morning’s price….
Hyperfocus would have a placer’s chance tomorrow under David Allan – if he backs up his Hamilton form. But he’s getting long in the tooth now and it’s a long while since he produced a big run in a top-level big-field handicap….
Premier Power looks like the spare under Paul Hanagan – and I get the impression they’re still learning about this one ahead of what will be just his second go for the yard….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are paying 1/5 the first 7. Bet365, Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power and Boylesports are paying 1/5 the first 6….
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 Sunday Series Sprint Handicap (5.35 @ York)….
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.
Operated by Spa Publishing Group Ltd (Company No. 15830286) 
