Dark Cloud Rising tried to make the running, but was pestered for the lead, and I think that took its toll.
The eventual winner stayed side-by-side with Dark Cloud Rising, but had more in the tank. My selection faded inside the final half a furlong, and I think the heavy weight was the main reason for that. Carrying ten stone is not an easy task, hence why you don't see it done all too often.
Sedeirah found the favourite too hot for her at Nottingham. She drifted out slightly, but she probably went to a price she should have been. I thought it was worth taking on the favourite, and I said it would be between the front two and it panned out like that.
Midgham Man 9/1 (0.5pt EW) – Ffos Las 3.00
With a bit of rain expected to come to South Wales, it makes the race a little more interesting than it should have.
George Boughey's runner is the deserving favourite, and they must have felt he was above average, as he was backed into 6/4 favourite on debut. He didn't manage to get the job done on debut, but ran with credit, and then capitalised by making the running on the all-weather on his next start. He's a short price for this race, and with different race conditions and the return to turf being a question, I wanted to take him on.
It looks interesting that Oisin Murphy has opted not to ride Andrew Balding's horse, who is the current second favourite, and he's gone for Rod Millman's horse. Based on this, I get the feeling Oisin has had a whisper that this filly didn't show her true colours on debut. Also, with Oisin chasing the jockey title, he's going to pick his best chances in every race.
This has seen Balding opt for a jockey who has never ridden for the yard, so surely the 2/1 available on that horse is a really bad price.
I know that Oisin has been riding a lot for this yard, but his main stable is the Balding one.
Rosemary's Rose 2/1 (1.5pt) – Ffos 4.00
With a couple of horses making their handicap debuts, it has probably put Rosemary's Rose's price out to a bigger one than it should have been.
These horses have to be respected, but I can only base their chances on what we've seen, and that hasn't been a great standard. This is a class 6, so they could easily improve to win, but I wanted to back the in-form horse.
Rosemary's Rose has been knocking on the door in recent runs, and it's only a matter of time before that door opens, and this looked like a nice opportunity for her.
Oisin booked up once again for the Millman yard, which is never a bad thing.
GambleAware