BBOTD Monday 1st April

[cpo]

4.50 Fairyhouse Panther Claw EW @ 14/1 Ladbrokes (apologies for getting this up so early) Probably a race not to get too involved in as there has only been 1 single figure priced winner of the race in the last 10 years. Panther Claw however makes plenty of appeal as long as he has gotten over his exertions from a couple of weeks ago, which got him into the race. His last run came 2 weeks ago where he did well to win a good race at Navan over 3m in testing ground. He had a hard race that day so you certainly take a chance with this one being 100% for this race but he fits plenty of the trends for the race and looks a progressive young staying chaser. He is only 7 years old and has only had 6 career starts over fences resulting in 2 wins, 3 placed efforts and a 4^th behind the classy Mount Benbulben. He has already bumped into the likely favourite for this race in Rich Revival where he finished just over a length behind in 2^nd over 2m5f at this track. He shaped that day as if in need of a longer trip and he followed that with a win next time out over 25f at Punchestown. He then came out and finished a good 3^rd in the Thyestes chase at Gowran Park over 25f, but again looked in need of a longer trip. He won last time out at Navan over 3m where he managed to battle back near the line to win by over a length. He doesn’t really have a change of gear or do anything quickly but this step up in trip should suit him down to the ground. He is by Old Vic whose progeny love these staying chases and I feel there could be more to come from him. The slower the ground the better for him as it will bring his stamina into play, so I wouldn’t want it any better than soft. Katie Walsh takes the ride, which doesn’t bother me as she has shown when partnering Seabass around the National fences last year how good she is. The only negative I have is that he is definitely vulnerable to anything with a chance of gear at the business end of the race but he will certainly be bang there if putting in a clear round.

[robertob]

Re: BBOTD Monday 1st April 16.10 Yarmouth: Smart Spender @ 4/1 VC Thought Smart Spender ran promising on his seasonal reappearance which was also his first handicap start. He came a bit under pressure from 3f out and didn't have a chance with the winner but he ran on very well under an easy hands and heels ride to finish a decent enough third in a race that looked competitive. I expect him to improve fitness wise with this run under his belt, he also drops down in class but is able to race of a mark of 80 again. He's still lightly raced as last week was only his third ever start, before that he won at the second time of asking an ordinary 5f maiden at Southwell in really good style last year. So with more to come from from him I think Smart Spender should go close here.