Friday, 2nd September 2022
The Old Borough Cup (2.55) is the feature handicap at Haydock on Saturday afternoon….
AMTIYAZ can be backed at 18s and 16s – and I’m swinging the bat….
He was progressive for John Gosden in handicaps last term – winning the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot off 95 before going well off 99 next time in the bet365 Trophy at Newmarket behind Live Your Dream and Global Storm….
He wasn’t seen again until York’s meeting last month – where he ran down the field in the 12f handicap. He was entitled to need that run off his long break – and he ran a little keen early doors. I also think the 12f was short enough for him….
Both his good handicaps performances last summer were logged at tomorrow’s 14f trip – and he has won at 2m. Back at 14f tomorrow – and with that last run under his belt – he’s a candidate to outrun his odds under Hollie Doyle on ground that will suit….
The other plus is his rating – he’s down to 98 from 100 on the back of that York run. I think he’s nicely handicapped….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet & William Hill are 1/5 the first 5. You can get 1/5 the first 4 generally….
In the National Racehorse Week Handicap (3.10) at Ascot a field of 17 will slug it out up the 7f straight….
THE ATTORNEY is my dark horse bet at the general 16s….
He took a big leap in class when turning out for the Bunbury Cup in July off a mark of 94 – and he ran well. He was 5th of 18 and beaten under 2-lengths….
He followed up in another big-field – albeit in a less valuable handicap – when 2nd behind Sir Lyndon at Goodwood later the same month….
He’s been seen once since when winning a 4-runner £8k race at Doncaster (he was the yard’s only runner at the track that day). He landed the money – but went up 2lbs to a mark of 96 as a consequence….
Is getting that £8k pot worth sacrificing the 2lb rise in the rating with a handicapper rated in the mid-90s?
Perhaps it is if he needed a sharpener – and if connections reckon they’ve got sufficient margin in his mark to comfortably accommodate the penalty. I think he’s a fair bet at the price….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. You can get 1/5 the first 5 generally….
Nick’s Dark Horses….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 Old Borough Cup (2.55 @ Haydock)….
In the National Racehorse Week Handicap (3.10 @ Ascot)….
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 – enjoy the racing. It’s not life and death – it’s a game we play for fun. It’s good sometimes to remind ourselves of that fact….
Stay tuned.
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