Apologies for getting it totally wrong on Big Zouk at Kelso, that was a painful watch.
I'm never a fan of a horse going four wide for the entire race, but it definitely didn't make a difference on the outcome of Big Zouk.
After a couple of ponderous jumps, he was off the bridle, and then the horse chucked in the towel. Considering he looked like a strong stayer last time out, I expected him to be in the race until the very end. It turns out the complete opposite happened, and was pulled up with over a mile to travel.
Invincible Nao 12/1 (1pt) – Ascot 3.00
I am a very forgiving person, and I like to give horses chances. I've tipped up Invincible Nao on at least four occasions over the last couple of seasons, and I am still a believer of his ability.
At first, I thought he was going to be a regional national horse, but turns out his stamina isn't the strongest for those races, despite winning at Plumpton over 3m 4f. I gave him another chance last time out at Lingfield over the national trip, and his stamina didn't last. However, the way he travelled through his race and the race before at Sandown is a huge factor as to why I think the drop to three miles has to be a positive.
In both of his last two races, he has looked like a huge player, but his gas tank isn't as full as those who finished ahead of him when jumping a couple from home. If you pause the race at Sandown turning for home, he would've been trading much shorter than his starting odds.
This is another difficult race, but he gets in off a low racing weight and at decent odds, I have to give him one last chance over a trip that I believe will suit.
Throatlash 11/4 (1pt) – Haydock 1.28
I was on the receiving end of a battering by Throatlash when I tipped up Chuggy, but then I tipped him up last time out. He put in a game performance at Haydock to beat a subsequent winner.
The handicapper has put him up 5lbs for the recent success, which isn't too harsh, and I think that shouldn't be enough to halt him from landing a fourth win in a row.
The conditions at Haydock will mean this is going to be a stamina test, but based on how Throatlast finished the race off over course and distance last time out, it shouldn't be an issue.
There are plenty of decent handicappers in this race, but Throatlash is a progressive chaser who should have more to give. He gets my vote at 3/1, which I deem to be good odds.
GambleAware