BBOTD Thursday 6th

[cpo]

3.55 Meydan Innoculous 1pt win @ SP Going over to Dubai for my BBOTD today, as the weather conditions here are not making things easy to pick something out. There are a couple of handicaps on the card tomorrow and I think this one is the most interesting. The three worth concentrating on will probably be the first 3 in the betting but these certainly look the most likely winners. These are Ganas, Desert Philosopher and Innoculous. If we start with Ganas, this horse won last time out over CD and was given a good ride from the jockey from the front. I don’t think the rest of the field covered themselves in glory by allowing him an easy lead and once he kicked it took them an age to get after him. He was tiring at the line and the pack was closing but he just got there. I can’t see him getting his own way in front here however, as he has the worst of the draw in 14. Even if he does manage to get to the front, he certainly won’t get his own way of things with other likely front-runners in the line up. That brings me to Desert Philosopher who will be having his first run for the in form A Al Raihe. Kevin Ryan trained him when he was in the UK and although he wasn’t the most consistent he did have a 100% record on an artificial surface. He may just need this race but I expect him to go to the front from his stall 7 as not many inside of him will want to lead. I would expect him to be one that forces the pace for this race, which may just set it up for something coming from the pack, which brings me to my selection Innoculous. A Al Rahie also trains Innoculous and he comes here on the back of a good 2^nd over a mile at Meydan a couple of weeks ago. He drops back to 6f, which shouldn’t be a problem as he finished tired in that race over a mile and looked as though a drop back in trip would suit. He was forced to race wide in that race so he did pretty well to finish where he did. He has had 1 attempt over CD, which ended in him getting disqualified despite finishing first past the post. That effort came in a 80-95 handicap where he was rated 87. This is a similar standard race being a 75-95 handicap but he has been dropped 2lbs to a mark of 85. He is drawn in 9 here, so I would expect him to drop in and race in midfield and hopefully have the race set up for him by the front-runners. Should be a cracking little race as most of the local trainers are all in good form at the moment but A Al Rahie is one I like to follow over the others.

[Blazing Bailey]

Re: BBOTD Thursday 6th 1.50 Market Rasen - Roi De Garde 4/1 Paddy Power BOG This horse looked progressive last year but lost his way a little towards the end of the season. He has picked that thread up again this season, finishing 3rd to a progressive winner on his first start for a couple of months, before winning LTO against two rivals rated 109 and 103 who had solid previous form and the 3rd also went close NTO. Even his last run here, he came 2nd to a horse that has won since off 104. He looks as though he will stay all day (which is what the trainer has also suggested) and while I wouldnt want it any softer, I think this ground should be fine.