I didn't think Cristal d'Estruval was going to be backed into 2/5 on his chasing debut, but he showed why that was the case.
I thought he put in a very solid round of jumping, and he looks like he could be a player in some of the big races at some stage of the season. I don't think you can get carried away as he only beat one horse, but it was a nice starting point.
We don't know what level of horses Lady Jetfire beat, but she did it with Gavin Sheehan not moving a muscle in the saddle. It was an impressive victory, and she might be smart, but it's hard to say until she runs again or the others in the race frank the form.
Sherborne 9/4 – Huntingdon 1.10
I think the price of 9/4 available on Sherborne will soon be shorter, and I think if he was to half in price, that would be a fair representation of his chances of winning.
Even though he has finished fourth and fifth on his last two starts, if you look at when he was winning races last season, he has a very strong case of winning this. He was very impressive at Exeter and Ascot in March, winning by a combined 38L and winning off handicap marks of 108 and 115. His two most recent starts weren't as good, but his handicap mark has dropped from 123 to 119, and considering he was a very comfortable winner off a 4lb lower mark (recorded an RPR of 130), any return to form will see him as difficult to beat.
Just like Sherborne, the others in this race are out of form, but this is also a veterans' race. It's difficult to see the likes of the older horses bouncing back to form after not showing much for much longer than Sherborne.
Kamille Au Kanada 9/4 – Lingfield 2.20
It's a risk backing Kamille Au Kanada for this race, as she is making her handicap debut after winning three races in maiden/novice company. We don't know whether she's ahead of the handicapper whilst carrying a 7lb penalty, but I think he is capable of transferring that form to handicaps.
He is clearly a likeable horse, winning three of his four hurdle starts, recording progressive RPRs in his winning runs of 110, 115 and 120. The others in this race are consistent and solid horses, but they don't really look to be progressing, but they will run their races, so if my selection isn't on form, he'll get found out.
The heavy racing weight of 12st 4lbs is offset by 5lbs thanks to Chad Bament who takes the rides. Chad was a winner on this horse last time out, so he knows him quite well and knows how to ride him.
GambleAware