Flat Racing Monday 4th Oct

[chris34]

2.30 Windsor Prince Apollo must hold a solid chance on what is going to be very testign ground, he hadnt beaten hardly anything in 5 starts in handicaps in this country and has since dropped down the weights considerably and had to be dropped to seller company to win quite convincingly in the end! That may just have boosted his confidence and is much better than a 70 rated horse on french form and will relish testing conditions unlike many of these! 0.5pt e/w Prince Apollo

[StuSimmy]

Re: Flat Racing Monday 4th Oct 16:40 Pontefract Balatoma finally got off the mark at the 5th time of asking in August when landing a class 4 maiden race at Salisbury. This was the first time she had a run in soft ground so its fair to say the cut in the ground may have played a key part in that victory. The second place from that race has boosted the form by winning a handicap off a mark of 72 since so that must give Balatoma a great chance of winning a race off a mark of just 70 considering she won BY three quarters of a length that day. Her last run was her 2nd in handicap company and she finished 2nd of 5 at Ffos Las in good ground. She showed some quirks that day so it wasn't the best of runs but it wasn't the worst effort either. Gets in off the same mark today and I believe the step up in trip may just bring out some extra improvement in her and the fact the ground is soft today which is definitely in her favour. Dettori is an interesting jockey booking having only been in the saddle for Marcus Tregoning 25 times previously, notching up 4 wins, two 2nds and two 3rds from those rides. The pair are 1 from 2 in 2010 so far. This is the trainers only horse out today at a track he holds a 19% strike rate at. Dettori also holds a great track record with a 21% strike rate. 1pt win Balatoma @ 5/1 (Bet365 - BOG)