Jump Racing - Tuesday 23rd July

[arsenalpunter]

15:45 Southwell 3m 0f 110yds Class 3 Denis Wright Memorial Handicap Hurdle Selection: Cockney Trucker It’s not every day I would consider backing a horse that hasn’t been seen in the winners enclosure since October 2010, however the 11 year old could well make a return there today with a drop in class, conditions in his favour and the champ, AP McCoy, on board. Having mostly contested Class 2 contests recently, the horse drops back to Class 3 today where he should find life slightly easier than last time out when finishing 5th at Ffos Las, having been outpaced and was no danger to the winner. As mentioned he hasn’t been seen in the winner enclosure for almost 3 years now, but there has been plenty of creditable efforts since that, not least last year when finishing 5th, and only 6 ½ lengths behind winner Son of Flicka, in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Cockney Trucker also went very close in March this year off today’s mark of 130 at Doncaster when only a neck behind Aaim to Prosper over 3m with conditions similar to today. The task at hand here looks more straightforward, especially off a lower mark, and it should be another for the tally for AP McCoy. Ogee could be the biggest danger to my selection, he is a versatile type who acts on most ground conditions, he should appreciate the drop back to the 3m distance here after running over 3m 3f last time out, however I feel that the horse may prefer a slightly trip and if Cockney Tavern is thereabouts with him at the finish, I think my selection should see the trip out ahead of Ogee.