Great Leighs 16/10/08

[fintron]

8.20 Atabaas Allure - proven polytrack winner who beat Silent Hero by a neck LTO at Wolv. That rival won NTO to boost the form. Was 2nd to On Our Way at Sandown prior to that and he placed in a listed race NTO. Only up 3 lbs from her last win, draw seems ok, and trainer has had plenty of winners over past couple of weeks. RPF 11/4

[fintron]

Re: Great Leighs 16/10/08 8.20 Great Leighs I like another in this race so are now going two against the field. Paul Howling's runner is priced up at a whopping 16/1 (Bet 365 BOG) even though his all-weather form reads a decent 511. The 5th came on his debut run at Kempton. He could have been handed a kinder draw to be fair, but starting from stall 5 he got himself right into the mix and finished 5th in a blanket finish in which he was only beaten by half a length. His second run on polytrack followed next time out in a maiden at Wolverhampton. There were only five runners in the field, but he got the job done well with a two and a quarter length victory from Dedante. The form of that race looks average at best, however, he has showed his worth in handicaps subsequently when he scored at Kempton in June. Admittedly, he was starting from a favourable draw that day, but the form of that handicap looks okay. He was running off a mark of 83 (same as today) and beat Gassal, who was won since to boost the form, by half a length. The 4th, Scenic Pass, has won two handicaps since, albeit at a lower level. Even the 8th, Swingfire, who reopposes tonight, has won twice since, again, off lower marks though. However, there is no denying that he handles this surface and given that he has recorded one of the highest top-speed ratings on this surface in the field I think he is worth a punt. Grand Honour steps up in class from his last AW win and he is drawn widest of all but over a mile that may not matter too much. Trainer Howling linked up well with Jimmy Quinn the other day when Dvinsky romped home at Kempton and hopefully they can continue their run of form here.