Cairnzy offered to step in and cover Rizz on Thursday. Rizz will return on Thursday evening with his selections for Fridays racing.
Firstly, I hope everyone is keeping well!
It has been a while since I jumped on the thread. I messaged Rizz earlier on and offered to give him a day off, and he kindly agreed.
Rizz will be disappointed in the performances from his two selections on Wednesday. Both had form on testing ground, but both performed like they had never experienced it before.
Edgewater Drive was an each way play, but was tailed off. Jockey Alex Jary eased his mount up after feeling something was amiss. The vet has since reported that the gelding had been struck into on his right hind.
Centigrade was sent off favourite but jumped awkwardly at the start and was far too free to be involved in the business end.
Gatineau Park 2/1 – Stratford 15:20
This looks like a tricky little race on paper and there are plenty in with a chance.
I was initially tempted by the Skelton trained Mr Hope Street. He is still unexposed over the larger obstacles, but he is definitely better over further. I thought 2m3f was just a bit on the sharp side of things for him, and as a result I opted to give him a miss this time around.
The one I liked was the chasing debutante Gatineau Park. My selection was a winner of two of his four starts over timber last season, with his win at Ayr being the pick of the bunch, having looked very impressive on the day.
Gatineau Park is a lover of soft ground, so it’s good to see he will get just that when he lines up tomorrow. I fully expect Tom Bellamy to ride my selection up with the pace, and if he takes well to the larger obstacles, then he could prove a nice chasing prospect for connections.
Country Mouse 5/1 – Ffos Las 14:30
My final selection on Thursday comes in the shape of the Tom Symonds trained Country Mouse.
I think you can take on the market favourite in this race. I can’t fault the form of the Joe Tizzard yard, who are operating at around a 30% strike rate in the last 14 days, including 9 winners and 13 placing from 30 rides. With that said, I just thought 6/4 was far too short for Ugo Bingo, and I thought there was potentially better value elsewhere.
I opted to take a chance on Country Mouse. My selection comes with risks attached, but I think a return to more testing ground can see this horse in better light.
He was previously trained by Alastair Ralph, and produced some up and down form in that time, but did manage to hit the frame on a few starts. He does look like a horse who needs things to fall right on the day, but he’s joined a yard in Tom Symonds, who at the moment is seemingly coming to the boil. Jockey Ned Fox claims a handy 3lb which is another positive factor.
There has been some money already in for my selection which is encouraging, and I’ll be interested to see if the money continues to come throughout the night and up to the off.
GambleAware