BBOTD Friday 21st October

[Lars]

16:55 Doncaster NICE STYLE has now fallen to what looks like a decent looking mark and now back to more suitable ground, as well as a less competitive race than he’s been running in all season, he should go very well even though he comes up against some progressive three year old types. He’s trained by Jeremy Gask and although he started 2011 in terrific fashion when winning over this trip at Lingfield in January (off a mark of 94), his season since hasn’t really gone to plan. This has mainly been due to running off too high a mark, being placed in extremely competitive races or racing over too far. As a result his mark has fallen to 85 and he may well be handicapped to strike, especially after the promise of his last two starts. They were both at Newmarket on fast ground and that for a start won’t have been to suit as he has a fairly high knee action and his past winning-form when trained in Ireland has come on genuine good ground, so there’s a fair case that a firm surface won’t have been ideal. Furthermore, he’s had other excuses his past two starts as well. In one he didn’t get a clear run and in the other, when running in the Cambridgeshire over 1m1f, he came from absolute miles back. Although he was only passing beaten horses, he did extremely well I thought to finish where he did, especially in such a tough race and on fast ground. He has been dropped 3lbs in the ratings since (did have a 7lb claimer on-board) and that can only assist his chances today. Today, he races over the 1m2f trip that’s his optimum and the step up in distance from last time will only be in his favour. The genuine good ground at Doncaster today will also be of benefit, and even if a bit more rain falls it shouldn’t inconvenience as he has form on good/yielding ground in Ireland. I think when conditions are in favour like they are today; he has the potential to run to a mark in the low 90’s, so he’s starting to look pretty well-handicapped now. Tom Queally’s booking is a positive one as he doesn’t ride that often for the stable and it may be that a stronger rider than a 7lb claimer is necessary for this mount. Nice Style is a really big price at 16/1, and he should be around the 10/1 mark at most. What dampens enthusiasm is that this is an exceptionally competitive affair, with 7lbs between all 20 runners and the selection can easily run to a mark in the 90’s and still not win. He’ll need some breaks in-running but Tom Queally is canny enough to find them and I think this one is in front of the handicapper at present and should be on the premises at the finish. NICE STYLE; EW @ 16/1 Bet365 (bog)

[south_eastern_ram]

Re: BBOTD Friday 21st October Agree Lars, read before his run at York earlier this season that Jeremy Gask said he prefers cut and the ground that day will probably be quicker than ideal. Makes his last two runs even better.