Celestial Fashion put in another impressive display, running out an easy winner for the third win over fences.
It's crazy to see the level of improvement from this mare in the last twelve months. She is a totally different beast over fences, and between 2m 3f – 5f she has won by many lengths in every success.
On the other hand, Captain Boudet was very disappointing. He jumped out to the right throughout, and was constantly on and off the bridle. He struggled to compete with the classier horses, even carrying an extremely low weight, and that was the reason why he finished at the back of the tele.
Charles Ritz 6/1 (1pt) – Ludlow 2.58
This Class 3 (0-125) is a tough race to call, but I want to take on Rodney, who is too short in the market. In all fairness, he is the correct favourite and is in tremendous form, but he has shot up the handicap and might find this a step too far.
I tipped up Groovy Blue at Southwell, the race that Charles Ritz won. I was fairly strong on Groovy Blue, but he was below par and was pulled up. Watching the race, I thought Charles Ritz was given too much to do from the rear, but he cruised into contention and won with a bit in hand.
I thought that was a nice performance, and something which Tom George could work on going forward. That was his first run in 400 days, which leaves me thinking that he might not have been 100%. If that's the case, and he is fitter now, he could be good enough to defy the 4lb rise in the weights.
He has won on testing ground before, beating Good Friday Fairy, who has since shot up in the handicap. At the prices, I thought he was a no-brainer if you wanted to have a bet in this race.
Mexican Stan 12/1 (1pt) – Sedgefield 2.42
I am always on alert for trainers who send their horses to tracks they rarely visit, and Alistair Ralph is one of the trainers who doesn't send horses on long distances unless they think their horse has a chance.
On paper, Mexican Stan has no chance in this race. However, this is horse racing, and we all know how horses can just turn it around and find form, mainly with the application of money.
This is Alistair's third ever runner at Sedgefield. He hasn't managed to walk away with a winner from the North Eastern track, but he has had a runner-up and a fourth. Given how well he does with his horses in Scotland, I have full confidence that this won't be a wasted journey and that he can run better than what we've seen from him so far in his short career.
In all fairness, it won't take much to win this race. Apart from Linden Lane and Vampire Slayer, the rest are severely out of form. My fancy is still only a six-year-old, and has only had a handful of runs.
GambleAware