When your luck isn't in, you feel like everything is not in your favour.
In a race which had 12 or so horses running, for my selection, Lesley's Boy to break the slowest wasn't ideal. He was drawn next to the rail, and something you cannot do is break slowly at this track when next to the rail.
The race was pretty much over within the first three seconds of the race. He would have needed a magic carpet to avoid trouble in running, as well as bridging the gap from the leader. Mark's Choice had to win after I said he tempted me, but it's extremely poor that a nine-year-old can win a Class 4 race against much younger horses.
Bashful Boy 5/1 (1pt) – Musselburgh 4.00
It's surprising that we only see eight horses turn up for this 2m 2f race, which is worth £10,400 to the winner. Based on the horses who have turned up, it's not a great race, and a fair few of them need to prove themselves at the trip. Based on what I've seen from the horses in this race, I think it might be worth giving the top weight a chance of returning back to form.
This tactic doesn't do me many favours, so I tend to stay away from it, but it looks crying out for a bit of class to brush this average field to the side. Bashful Boy is an interesting runner, as David Pipe is willing to travel nearly a 900-mile round trip, which shows the intent from that stable. They must really think a return to form is on the cards, as that is a significant amount of travelling. David Pipe is 1/3 at the track on the flat, and 5/15 at this track over the jumps, which is a good indicator of his horses arriving with a good chance when at Musselburgh.
Elizabeth Gale has been attracting the attention of some of the middle-ground trainers, and she has made the trip up to Scotland for one ride. She takes off a handy 5lbs, which puts Bashful Boy on an 11lb lower mark than when he last won on the flat.
Lexington Blitz 2/1 (2pt) – Catterick 4.15
There appears to be a lot of pace in this race, with nearly every runner having form from the front. That could mean it'll be a burn up, but that shouldn't be an issue for Lexington Blitz, who continues to drop through the handicap.
The big swing in favour of Lexington Blitz is the form of the Epsom 3YO Dash race in June. Epsom shares a lot of similarities with Catterick, both with a decline from the start to the finish line, and that appeared to suit Lexington Blitz, who finished second in that race. That form is the best on offer by a big margin, as the winner has since won a big pot in the Racing League.
Since the Epsom race, Lexington Blitz's form has taken a bit of a dive, up until last time out at Musselburgh. He got taken on for the lead in Scotland, and he didn't enjoy it, so hopefully, PJ allows them to go mental on the front and he can pick up the pieces.
GambleAware