Wetherby Thursday 26th January

 

A competitive race with lots of form lines to consider.  

 

At the top of the market is BLUE SHARK for the O'Neills with form figures of 111 off marks of 76,80,88 and today 94. It was all out to win last time and may have hit a ceiling but with another stable runner a favourite in my other tip race I will cover off with a small double on those 2 horses (see below)

 

Samation for Kim Bailey and David Bass has form figures of 13222 and is very solid, my only niggle is the Going with this one so if you want to play a small reverse forecast with Blue Shark feel free but i want to take both on in terms of substantive bets. Joie De vivre has been absent for 84 days and I think kept away from heavier Going, so for that reason today "I'm out".

 

At the top end of the market the one I like most is ECONOMIC EDITOR a runner up over Course and Distance off 71 in heavy last year and a runner up at Ayr and Kelso off similar marks and runs off 77-7 here. Euchan Falls would be a strong contender on its last run when runner up at 50/1 but that race looks out of kilter with known form. Hokelami could be anything after 3 qualifying runs to get this mark, OrlasAbbey is another coming off a mini break, Brian Hughes is an interesting booking on any 20/1 shot so we can't totally ignore Fiadh, Storm Tiger may need the run but showed promise last season and together with Largy Reach is well worth tracking after today.

 

The other pair who really caught my eye are RIGHT SAID TED who has been in the Tracker since an eye-catching handicap over 2 miles and the step up to this trip should eekout considerable improvement for Sue Smith and LOGHERMORE who is a Course and Distance winner, 4th in a Handicap Hurdle here off a mark of 95 in similar conditions last February, a Chase winner since and quietly aimed here off a hurdle markof 93 with a 7lbs Claimer booked. I expect it to outrun very generous Odds.

 

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A lot of unexposed types in here like THE GOONER (Jonjo) for whom we suggest the win double with Blue Shark.

 

There are also the likes of Jet Legs who started in 3 mile P2P fields, The Imposter with form figures of 3-1-1-1-2 but who may just be in the grip of the handicapper off a markof 95, Rockmann who has been runner up a couple of times and who steps up in trip, Imperial Hurricane who is another from the Kim Bailey yard unexposed and up in trip.

 

Hughes again rides an outsider in Top Cloud, Telefina may need better Going and moonacurra may prefer a shorter trip.

 

The 3 who caught my eye and nice prices though are MY STRONG MAN who put up an improved effort upped to this trip last time and who looks well handicapped on that basis, STORM FORCE ONE whose Course form is actually compelling if you delve back, all its best runs have been over Course and Distance placing 2nd and 3rd twice, it's hard to ignore that evidence off a mark of 78. The least exposed of my trio is BLENDED STEALTH for the Twiston - Davies yard who has so far failed to live up to promise but one you feel could click at any time.