Friday, September 07, 2007

Stratford selections

Ten go to post at 3.45 for the Walls and Ceilings International Handicap Chase. The field contains a number of unexposed sorts including The King Of Angels, Ronald Jack (pictured in the lead at Towcester last time out), Baodai and Once A Brownie; my interpretation of the bare form is that, of these, Jonjo O'Neill's The King Of Angels has the most improvement to come. Richard Johnson is in the plate as Tony McCoy rides the J.P. McManus owned Once A Brownie which, in my book, stood a better chance in the 2.45 race. Miss K. Marks is double handed with the lightly weighted Rash Moment and Liverpool Echo; the latter named is not easy to catch right but likes Stratford. An open event in which I'll have an each way interest in Liverpoool Echo at odds of around 12/1.

The market has proved a reliable guide to the 4.15 in the past, with the winner coming from the top three in the betting on the past nine occasions. The top weighted Bureaucrat gets the nod.
In the 3.15 Soliya is the form choice. Feasible alternatives include Silmi, Strikeen and Callisto Moon. I'm going to this meet - I'll side with Soliya if priced 2/1 or bigger, otherwise I'll oppose with Silmi.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Liverpool Echo was available at 12/1 in the morning but sent off at 5/1 (the biggest price I saw on course was 7/1). It made not a jot of difference as the horse ran abysmally, receiving reminders early on, to finish eighth of the nine runners. The King Of Angels (4/1) won this a shade comfortably and, as I suspected, looks one to note. Once A Brownie's jockey, A P McCoy, switched to The King Of Angels when Once A Brownie was declared a non-runner. The hint was there - I was too slow to twig - but several did as the horse's price contracted from 6/1 to 4/1.
Bureaucrat (100/30 favourite) was brought into the race steadily and held every chance three out but faded to finish fifth. Decisive (10/1) won well.
Soliya was freely available at 11/4 on course before being backed in to 2/1 favouritism and won very easily indeed. The filly dominated from the front, Tom Scudamore riding an excellent race. Silmi (4/1) proved slightly disappointing in third, beaten over fifteen lengths.