Beset 2/1 – Naas 3.40
Despite the heavy weight, I thought siding with Beset was a no-brainer.
Joseph O'Brien does extremely well in races like this with the older horses who carry big weights from penalties, and Beset is another who puts herself at the forefront of another.
She has been in good form this year. She has won two Listed races, as well as finishing second in a Group 3, and her only ‘poor' effort was in a Group 2 against the likes of Minnie Hauk. She is extremely solid at this level, and we know she is fine with the ground and the course.
Putapoundinthejar 5/1 – Naas 4.15
Whenever Tony Martin comes to town on the flat, whether that's in the UK or Ireland, you need to take note, especially in big pot handicaps like this one.
The yard field a couple in this race, one being the favourite, and the other being fancied in the market as well. We saw him land the Cesarewitch yesterday at Newmarket, which showcases his talent for landing these races. Robbie Colgan has been his most used jockey this year, and he is riding the favourite, so you'd like to think that he is the best chance.
Putapoundinthejar is a jumps horse at heart, and he has shown a good level of form over hurdles this year, as shown by winning the Galway Hurdle a few months ago. He doesn't look particularly well-treated on his flat form, but this longer trip could be what he needs, and you cannot doubt the trainer, who is a crafty sod.
Kylcot 11/2 – Goodwood 1.47
I usually wouldn't give the jump jockey flat races the time of day, but Klycot is a very interesting runner in this race.
With the weights being different for this race due to jump jockeys being bigger lads, it makes sense to side with a jumps horse who is proven to carry similar weights, and Klycot fits that bill.
Not only does Klycot have proof that he can carry similar to twelve stone, but he was a very good juvenile hurdler last jumps season. He was third at Cheltenham in the Fred Winter. The winner of that race (Saratoga) went on to be a Grade 1 winner, and Klycot was only five lengths behind him whilst carrying 3lbs less.
Obviously, that form is totally different to the flat, but he was a useful flat horse when trained in France. He recorded RPRs of 97 and 98 on testing ground. They were over shorter trips, and he has never run this far on the flat, but he's got to be worth a shot at the prices.
Wechaad 7/2 – Goodwood 4.42
It's a risk going with Wechaad for a race of this nature given his track record of not producing the goods, but I do believe it is a matter of time before things drop and he wins one of these, and maybe better races in the future.
The talent and ability are there; it all comes down to if he can get the right ride or the splits at the right time. They've missed chances of Wechaad this season for one reason or another, but he keeps running well in defeat. He is against some solid horses in this race, but I think he is still ahead of the handicapper, even off a tough mark of 95.
GambleAware