Saturday Jan 2nd Racing

[BillyHills]

Tote Scoop6 - January 2nd 2016

 

A bit of an anti-climax last week as the Tote Scoop6 was reduced to a Scoop5 after Wetherby was abandoned. It enabled 44 punters to correctly predict the quintet of winners and each receive £26,579.00 each. The Bonus Fund was protected and that stands at an incredible £836,354 and will be added to this week.

The New Year action comes from Sandown, and Ayr with one of the feature races being the final of the Veterans Series, which is at 3.00.

 

Leg 1: 1.15 Sandown

Fairy Rath won this last year and he goes for a repeat at the age of ten. He’s been slowly coming into form but is still 7lbs higher in the handicap and might have to settle for minor honours. I’ve always liked Garrahalish and he is up to winning in this grade, the only worry here is the form of the yard who can’t buy a winner. Of the others Ultragold and Mr Muddle are consistent performers and the improving Toowoomba from the Hobbs yard has to be respected in an open little handicap.

Selection: Garrahalish 12/1  BetVictor (Toowoomba)

 

Leg 2: 1.30 Ayr

Top weight Clan Legend is in great form at present and comes here on a hat-trick after victories at Kelso and Newcastle. Up a stone in the weights since his run started but goes on the ground. The opposition are largely out of form so its difficult to find an alternative and maybe Diamond D’Amour is worth a look after a fair second at Wetherby in November in heavy ground. Buckled was third at Doncaster last month in his first handicap and could improve on his current mark although I’m not sure about the heavy going for him.

Selection: Clan Legend 11/4  Stan James (Diamond D’Amour)

 

Leg 3: 1.50 Sandown

A two-mile handicap chase to look at here. The ground will be testing and the top weight Grey Gold will love the conditions. He won well last time out but is up 6lbs for that and now races off a career high mark. Just Cameron is my idea of the winner for the Micky Hammond yard. It’s a long way from their place and they should go back up the M1 with some prize money. He was second at Punchestown the last time we saw him finishing 3 lengths behind Un De Sceaux. Previous to that he had won three races and has gone from a mark of 128 to 149. I believe he still improving and can go close here.

Selection: Just Cameron 7/1  Skybet (Grey Gold)

 

Leg 4: 2.40 Ayr

Heavy going at Ayr for this 2m5f Hurdle and only thorough stayers need apply! Interestingly we have quite a few chasers lining up here with Yes Tom. Sa Suffit, Tap Night and Desert Cry. Tap Night was winning for the first time in ages and is well handicapped on some of his form and could go in again now he has found his level. The bottom one Caledonia will be popular after throwing a race away last time here. He was clear when stumbling after the last and now is put straight into a handicap by the shrewd trainer Jim Goldie. He’s on 117 which just gets him into the bottom of the handicap and looks to be a few pounds well in on that evidence.

Selection: Tap Night 4/1  William Hill (Caledonia)

 

Leg 5: 3.00 Sandown:  Veterans Handicap Chase Final

Cracking contest for the first ever running of the Veterans Series Final. 16 runners have turned up and it looks extremely competitive. Reaping The Reward looks like being the favourite and Richard Johnson has a rare ride for Lucinda Russell. He was second last time out on his comeback and should go well. My two against the field however are Soll and Relax. Soll is from the Pipe yard and has been running well in big handicaps, he will love the ground and stays all day. Relax was well beaten on his reappearance but qualified for this final which was the main aim. A C/D winner and looks like a plan from the Venetia Williams yard.

Selection: Soll 8/1 Bet365 (Relax)

 

Leg 6: 3.35 Sandown

The final leg is a tricky old handicap hurdle from Sandown over the minimum trip. Top weight is the classy Melodic Rendezvous who would pick these up and carry them if he was on top of his game. He was fourth last time to Old Guard after looking to be tailed off at one point. He likes Sandown so could bounce back. Leviathan is interesting; he ran well at Ascot first time out but was too free in a small field last time out. This type of race will suit him much better and could go well. I also like Rayvin Black, he’s a C/D winner but things didn’t go to plan in The Ladbroke last time at Ascot and can be forgiven one bad run.

Selection: Melodic Rendezvous 7/1  Paddy Power (Rayvin Black)

 

[chris34]

12.15 Southwell

Razin Hell looks an interesting runner in this, he has a very good record around here 4 wins and 2 placed efforts from 8 starts. Won around here in December 2014 off a mark of 67. Not so good on turf in the summer and been off since and switched yards. Runs off a just 3lb higher mark and could have a lot more to offer on this surface and useful apprentice claiming 7lb also very handy.

 

1pt e/w Razin Hell 8/1 bet365

 

12.30 Chelmsford

Clary has been in very good form recently winning 3 times in the Autumn including twice over CD, latest off 59 has been coming up a little short recently off revised mark but this looks a lot easier and latest effort was a huge step back in the right direction when finishing well from a hopeless position. The fact she is 2 from 2 around here, she may take the necessary step back in the right direction today.

 

2pt win Clary 9/4 PP

 

2.15 Chelmsford

Lancelot Du Lac comes out best on official ratings but he is yet to win over 5f which would be a worry against some proven 5f horses especially in the likes of the improving Lightscameraction who is only 2lb inferior on official ratings and improved again last time out at Lingfield when an impressive winner over 5f, that was his first win since AW Champions Day simply struggling to hit ground running on turf. Was wearing first time cheekpieces that day and they are retained today and should go well again with Kirby keeping the ride.

 

2pt win Lightscameraction 3/1 bet365

 

3.55 Chelmsford

Low grade stuff to end the day on an the 3 that are in form and likely to fight this out are all closely matched on a similar race. Elle Rebelle got the better of Officer in Command and Goodwood Moonlight over CD. She has been put up 2lb for that effort but somehow still gets in a class 7 despite racing off 52 now. Officer In Command was run out of it that day on first start for this yard and first time tongue tie for a long time, could easily build on that runs off same mark so gets a 2lb turn around for less than a length, he looks well handicapped on his best form and if new yard can restore him he is sure to go well. Spencer is also an eye catching booking. Goodwood Moonlight was 3^rd behind those 2, 2 ½ lengths behind Elle Rebelle that day runs off the same mark and does need to find a bit more but not been with this yard so not totally out of it.

 

2pt win Officer In Command 4/1 bet365