Bataillon didn't seem to stay the extra couple of furlongs, despite my belief that it was going to suit.
The inexperienced jockey wasn't great in the saddle and was far too inactive for my liking. I don't think a proper jockey would've got the horse to win, but he would've had a much better chance.
Ki Woo gave us a 5/1 winner at Haydock. He jumped well for the most part and stayed on well to win with a fair bit in hand.
Spring Serenade 11/2 (1pt) – Exeter 4.10
There are better quality races than the 4.10 pm race at Exeter, but I struggled to find a horse with a solid chance of winning. I think it's not a wise idea to be betting at this grade, but every now and again a horse will stick out from the rest.
Spring Serenade was the horse who caught my eye, and I think he is the one to be on for this race. He was a PTP winner on his only start in that sphere, but then transitioned to rules with two poor efforts. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt, as he was running over two miles, and when they put him up by a further four furlongs, he was backed in the market and finished second.
He was sent off at odds of 50/1 and 150/1, but was backed into 13/2 last time out, after showing little on his first two starts. Connections clearly felt that the step up in trip was going to be bring him into it, and they must've seen potential with him at home. Given he is a PTP winner over three miles, today's longer trip should be even better for him.
River Run Free 15/8 (2pt) – Leicester 3.00
With River Run Free returning to Leicester, I think he is the one to beat in this five-runner field.
I've had my fingers burnt by backing River Run Free away from Leicester, and then he beat my selection (finished runner-up) when he returned to Leicester on his penultimate run. I think this track brings the best out of him, and combining that with a slow surface makes him an attractive bet.
Eric Carmen is the current favourite on the back of two wins and three wins in his last four runs. River Run Free beat Eric Carmen when the pair met last season at this track, and there was a much larger weight discrepancy in favour of Eric, so it's hard to see how he could reverse the form this time around.
River Run Free won on the bridle at Leicester when he was last here. He has gone up in the weights since that win, but Rian Corcoran is in the saddle today and removes 7lbs, so I really think he is going to be tough today if he is in the same level of form.
GambleAware