Wednesday 5th June
By SP2A Analysis
NEWTON ABBOT - 2.10 Handicap Chase - Class 4 - 3 miles 2 furlongs - 12 run - Good
The top end of the market features Pentire Head on Chase debut for Paul Nicholls and thrown straight in to handicap company, Behind The Curtain who so far has looked more natural over Hurdles than Fences, Lightonthewing who is a solid and consistent performer but up 5lbs for a recent Course and Distance win and PUDDLESINTHEPARK who gets a nice small weight pull with Lightonthewing and who has an equally solid profile and enough Chase form to find any cracks in the far less exposed first couple named here.
Of the remainder, I will TRACK (adding today) Robinsville and Langley Hundred, both bring plenty of potential and both are early in Chase careers and should come on for this run and the experience it will bring and I'd confidently predict both can be winning races this summer. Love Actually is an out of form horse but from an in form Yard and has some form from early last season that suggests it is not without hope here.
At BIG odds, I definitely want an interest in SHORTCROSS STORM, who won a Class 5 race over Course and Distance last May and runs off just a pound higher here off a low weight. Whilst 25/1 or more reflects the overall ability of the horse and more the scope and potential of the others, it is no forlorn hope. SHORTCROSS STORM tends to run very prominently, build up a big lead and then can and has found more to slug it out to the line. I just have a hunch that it could slip this field, if they start waiting for each other and build up enough of a lead to get some of the less experienced Chasers here at it and out of their comfort zone as they approach the home bend second time round. If at that point a few start to make jumping errors, then I feel we have a chance of a place but also a bold and fun run at big odds for our investment. I also think these tactics will suit PUDDLESINTHEPARK with its greater Chasing experience and assured stamina. (DT)
-----