Jump Racing; Friday 23rd March

[Lars]

Although you can make a more pressing case for most of these, I do think that MILAN’S MAN (16:35) is worth a chance, especially with the first time visor and the switch to good ground. He’s on such a decent mark compared to his hurdles form and he always looked to be a horse crying out for a stamina test. He gets that today and with Denis O’Regan on board for an in-form yard, I think he’ll come good at some point and today looks a decent opportunity. He was a useful prospect when with Howard Johnson in Novice Hurdles in the 2009-10 season, looking a horse built for fences and 3m2f+. He hasn’t really took to fences so far, in abysmal form during the latter part of last season and starting this season for a new stable in a similar poor vein of form, originally being allotted a rating of 112 but that soon has plummeted. He’s been pulled-up in all three starts for Chris Grant, but could have needed the first two efforts and showed a fair bit more I thought in first time cheekpieces when last seen 51 days ago. He stuck about with the leaders for a lot longer than he had done on his previous two starts. In the end he found little for pressure but wasn’t given a very hard time by his claiming jockey, not being given a reminder once (as far as I could tell) even though he was starting to lose ground. He was eventually pulled up but at least showed some more enthusiasm for the game, something he hadn’t done for a while. Today he encounters good ground, something that he hasn’t met since pulling up on debut in a point to point. He’s been campaigned exclusively on softer ground and it may just be that this ground doesn’t suit at all. But he has relatives on his dam’s side that did improve for a better surface, and connections have obviously known the ground would be like this for a few days at least, so they’ve had every chance to pull him out. The first time visor could bring plenty of improvement, as I still there’s a horse capable of a 100+ rating within him, and this stable are decent at getting horses to spring back to form. They’re 2/6 in the past fortnight, with a horse that is so well-handicapped if finding his feet off this rating of 91, had a ‘better than the bare form’ outing last time and a stamina test that he should enjoy, I think this one is well worth a chance at big odds. 16:35 Sedgefield – Milan’s Man; 2pts @ 16/1 Bet365, Paddy Power (bog)

[Tedthewolf]

Re: Jump Racing; Friday 23rd March 2.40 NEWBURY ~AMIGALE E/W

Missed the early 10's on this one can just about bring myself to back it at 15/2! Always liked this mare she tries her heart out. Would have needed run over hurdles after layoff lto and i can excuse that. High enough mark but she's a good un when at her best. Ran an absolute cracker at Cheltenham last year if she reproduce anything near that would have a strong claim in this. Market confidence is a plus.