It was nice to start my short time back with a winning selection in Distant Storm, who won easily under jockey William Buick.
I thought the price would have been a bit shorter, but my selection remained steady in the market. However, I did think the markup price was good value, despite being on the shorter side.
I’m sticking with the flat at Newmarket for Friday’s selections and fingers crossed we can find another winner or two.
Touleen 5/4 – Newmarket 2.25
This looks a two-horse shoot-out between my selection Touleen and the S&E Crisford-trained Zanthos.
Both horses remain lightly raced and open to plenty of improvement, but the pair did meet in their most recent outing, which saw Touleen turn over the 4/11 shot Zanthos quite easily.
I managed to catch a replay of the race, and Zanthos pulled like a train throughout. His antics throughout that match-up definitely cost him in the run-in. With that said, Touleen couldn’t have looked any more impressive and definitely looks the easier ride of the two horses. I think a lot depends on whether Oisin can get Zanthos settled. If he does, then it may be a closer race, but Touleen is open to further improvement after only two starts, and I thought he was the safer bet of the two to get the job done.
Isle Of Jura 7/2 – Newmarket 3.35
Despite being off the track for over a year, I can’t not tip up Isle Of Jura. This horse won me plenty last year, and he owes me nothing from a punting point of view.
Of course, being off the track for 461 days is a huge gamble, and more often than most, horses will need a run or two before getting into top gear after such a long layoff. With that said, trainer George Scott is enjoying a successful flat season this term and is currently operating at a 25% S/R in the last two weeks. Although you’ve to take it solely on trust, you have to assume to a degree that George Scott has Isle Of Jura ready to go for this contest.
Furthermore, I don’t believe my selection would need to be fully ready to go to land this contest. Isle Of Jura brings easily the best form to the contest, and it would take a career best from this field to turn over my selection if he were to show up. Isle Of Jura is already a proven winner at Group level, winning quite easily in the Group 1 King George, whilst also winning a Group 2, beating Goliath in the process.
This contest tomorrow represents a drop into Listed company, and with young Billy Loughnane booked for the ride, I think he could have enough to add another win to his CV, even after over a year off the track.
GambleAware