Tuesday 28th August
By SP2A Analysis
Stratford 4.22 - Handicap Hurdle - Good to Firm > Good - Class 5 - 2 miles 6 furlongs - 16 run
This is a very competitive and unusually well supported field for the Course. A number upped in trip and some exposed and less exposed types and likely to be a strong competitive market to enhanced places.
At the top end of the market there is no doubt that the likes of BravewhenIneedtobe (upped in trip), Gone in Sixty (solid form at 2 and a 1/2 miles) and Emanate (another in decent form at 2 and a 1/2 miles) all have strong claims if staying the extra yardage. This is a quirky track with some hidden hollows and some uneven stretches that make it more of a stamina test than some would imagine.
THere are others like the Skeltons top weight Bahtiyar also upped in trip, Coilrock, who has a few pieces of decent form and Jassur Des Brosses who also has place claim if cheekpieces work again, who have decent overall chances here.
I have a very clear top 2 rated however and a couple at big odds who I fancy could significantly outrun them.
FENNEY BROOK has built up a nice place sequence and has been running strongly through the line at just shorter than this and I think has very strong each way claims here. Another who has been crying out for this intermediate trip as also finishing very strongly at slightly shorter is NASTASIYA who travels a long way for this opportunity and that may be a tip in itself.
At bigger Odds, I'm intrigued to see if Donald McCain can eek a lit bit more out of POOCH who ran well at two and a half miles for Rebecca Menzies, not long with McCain but the wind op an slight step up in trip may be the little boost the horse needs to find a win. He is marginally preferred to GUGUSS COLLONGES @ 20/1 a Chase winner here and a Distance winner , runs OK when fresh so not one to discard lightly. I have added both Pooch and Guguss Collonges to the TRACKER from today as I think both have wins in them, if not today then quite soon. (DT)
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Bellewstown 7.45 Handicap (Flat) 2 miles 1/2 furlong - 13 run - Yielding (early rain)
The top 3 dominate the betting but I am happy to take Royal Eagle, Reina Del Mar and Baltic Bird on as all are currently under 4/1, so no real conclusive win or each way value and I think at least 2 of the others have stronger each way claims.
I'm very sweet on BARNACULLIA was runner up in this race off exactly the same mark 12 months ago on the same sort of Going and at a much nicer each way price this time I think he can at least repeat that effort and hopefully go one better. BARRIER for Elliott, who has 2 higher up the market, also looks a solid e/w bet a soft ground winner creeping back close to that winning mark. He was very closely rated for 2nd and 3rd though with 1 TEED UP @ 16/1 who has been uncompetitive of late but is another back to a winning mark now below 90 and a win off 88 at Galway was most impressive. I will TRACK Teed Up forwards for sure as the first sign of form off this declining mark should be noted and closely followed. (MG)