Thursday 12th January

 

This is going to be a slog and they'll be ending well strung out and no doubt a lot pulled up to avoid unnecessary bottoming of stamina.

 

Tomorrows Angel is in the Tracker and would be a confident selection on ground no worse than Good to Soft but I don't fancy it in a slog like this so we'll wait for another day. Storm Force one has the capable assistance of Brian Hughes but I think he'll have to carry this one home in these conditions. Imperial Pride runs for David Dennis who has reinvented himself, not for the first time, and is starting to reestablish his credentials as a Trainer, this one has 3 mile P2P form but as far as i can see will rarely have encountered anything this heavy. Brandisova heads the market for Lucy Wadham and Bryony Frost but is a 9 race Maiden and another who doesn't seem to be crying out for a slog in these conditions.

 

I was left with 3 horses who tick most boxes. 

 

JESSIEMAC won this last year off 98 in Good to Soft Going, she has placed form on Heavy ground and although seemingly out of form, had a similar profile coming here last year and I'm well aware that one of Ian's most pertinent points with Mares is to note carefully what times of year they win in terms of how race healthy they may be in their season. A mark of 95 looks very appealing. A similar criteria applies to ATOMIC ANGEL, she won in February 22 and December 21 so clearly thrives at this time of year, has form over further so assured stamina and in heavy and has dropped to her last winning mark. Both have excellent claims.

 

If there is one at a bigger price for a small bet it's THE REAL JET she comes a long way from East Sussex (yard has a couple here) she returns to Hurdles and still an unexposed horse but she has one eye catching bit of 3 mile P2P form in bottomless Going! A place run would certainly help to cover the cost of the diesel.

 

 

I had a long old look at the 3.25 Handicap Hurdle over the same trip but didn't have anything like the same degree of confidence although Ratfacemcdougall and Mr Washington are off very nice marks the former seems regressive and the latter may not totally appreciate the conditions. Not tips on this occasion.

 

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It's likely to be a really tough ask for some of these in deep Tapeta with a lot of harrowing in recent weeks firstly to get frost out and now to ensure no surface water.

 

Hidenly is in the TRacker but not 100% sure it will appreciate the deeper surface, Selecto and Unbridled Power look pretty strong in the conditions in the 20-25/1 range; but a couple at nicer Odds stand out for undeniable stamina and whilst both would be outpaced on normal Standard Going they are likely to be plugging on longer than most and you'd think most will be running on the spot in slow motion at the end.

 

BOBBA TEE is a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 67 and has placed over 2 miles on this Track and surface, its had a couple of runs recently and all best form on AW has been on Standard to Slow Going and a mark of 62 looks very appealing. RIGGSBY is more comfortable over 2 miles here but with that stamina angle and the ironman Graham Lee in the saddle you'd expect him to be run to play to stamina background and to be ploughing on better than anything at the business end. It won't be pretty but hopefully profitable!