BBOTD Sunday 26th of February

[Aidymac]

*Marshal Zhukov - Fontwell 4:45* Travelled well for a long way when 3rd over 3 miles two starts back, and the step back to 2m 3f here should be in its favour. Good apprentice James Best takes off 7 pounds, and this is the horse's handicap debut, a mark of 107 looks leniant on a horse that is unexposed. Has only had the 4 runs to date. Caroline Keevel doesn't bring many horses to Fontwell, so it is interesting she brings 3 here tomorrow. Looks a poor race and not much improvement required to get involved. *0.5 Points e/w @ 12/1 Bet365 BOG*

[cpo]

Re: BBOTD Sunday 26th of February 4.25 Towcester Coda Agency EW @ 50/1 Bet365 This horse would appear to have completely lost the plot since his 2nd at Kempton in April last year but I am going to take a chance on him here in a race that looks very open and at a track that doesn't suit every horse. This horse has only had 4 runs for Brendan Powell but has not showed anything in them runs. Two of those runs came on the all weather where he finished tailed off on both occasions. His run at Huntingdon can be ignored as he never went a yard and was struggling early on. He made his reappearance at Fontwell at the end of January where he showed much more even though he finished tailed off in the end. He was still bang there coming to the 3rd last but probably found a combination of the ground and lack of recent run against him as he weakened quite quickly. Miss Wills rode him for the first time last time out and she gets the ride again which is a positive as she takes 7lbs off his back. He has dropped rapidly in the weights since his last over hurdles which came way back in 2008 over CD off a mark of 108. He ran over CD in 2009 where he was racing off 116 but finished well beaten. Since that run his rating has declined and he is now racing off a mark of 90. Jockey's claim takes off another 7lbs which puts him on 83 which makes him quite appealing if he can recapture his old form. I thought he ran a much more encouraging race last time out and he may improve with that run under his belt and on this better ground. Also a return to this track is a big help as his record here is 2 wins from 4 runs. Stable are in form at the moment with 3 winners in the last couple of weeks and they also have the favourite in this race. Award Winner is the favourite for this race but he has been beaten a combination of 250 lengths in his last 4 runs so I don't really see why he should be 9/2. I quite like the look of The Hudnalls who goes for Jim Old who won this race last year. He has a good record at the track and a return to form for that horse would not be the biggest surprise. There is not much good form on offer here so it would not be the biggest surprise if an outsider were to win this. Coda Agency clearly likes the track as his 2 hurdle wins have both come here. He looks on a good mark if he can build on his latest run and he might just be able to nick a place.