Flat Racing > Friday October 25th

[Aidymac]

Newbury 5:10 - Hennessy Heritage Festival Handicap (3) Blessington is the deserved favourite for this contest and looks by far the most progressive but I am willing to take him on as he is yet to encounter soft ground. I don't see why Tariq Too is such a big price here as the gelding will love the ground and he is only 1 pound higher than his last winning mark. Shelley Birkett takes off a handy 5 pounds and she has been riding well lately. If there are any chinks in the favourite's armour, I think this is the horse that can capitalise. Tariq Too WIN @ 10/1 Bet365

[robertob]

Re: Flat Racing > Friday October 25th 19.15 Dundalk: Billyford @ 9/1 SJ - 2pts win Looks a competitive handicap and I like a handful in this field but Billyford looks the only one really overpriced. He arrives on the back of a huge performance in a big handicap at the Curragh when he looked the winner until 100y out when he got badly tired in the closing stages and lost the race in the final starts, finishing even only fourth in the end. So the drop in trip to 7f should hardly be a problem for him, while he loves it around Dundalk as a five times course winner. This most recent performance was a clear return to form after a rather disappointing summer, but he was very competitive off higher marks earlier this year on the All-Weather. 19.45 Dundalk: Elegant Peace @ 13/2 Bet365 - 2pts win Lightly races filly having her handicap debut today. She didn't show too much in all her three starts to date, but the switch to the All-Weather can prove key to see her improving significantly. She has a pedigree made for this surface with her sire having a good start with his first crop there (22% strike rate in the UK). The drop to five furlongs is controversial but has to be seen if it suits or not, but the mark looks more than fair and it would be a surprise if Elegant Peace couldn't improve enough to see her going close in this race. 20.15 Dundalk: Monsieur Joe @ 11/1 VC - 2pts win Monsieur Joe have had a rather disappointing year so far, but then he raced in a couple of really hot races and came within five lengths of Shea Shea at Meydan earlier this year. He scored on Group and Listed level last season over 5 furlongs and can be really good on his day, unfortunately there hasn't been this day yet. But a return to the All-Weather might bring out some better form again. He ran well on the synthetic surface at Meydan and also earlier in his career on the AW in Wolverhampton, so he should be fine. If he can find back his old form he'd be good enough to beat this lot, in a field that looks competitive but pretty even as well otherwise.