2:20 Wincanton – Certainly Red
On the bare figures this looks to be a difficult task for CERTAINLY RED and if this was a hurdle race, he would be receiving the best part of 15 and 19lbs from his 2 main rivals. However, neither Danny Kirwan or Jay Bee Why have delivered the goods so far over fences and given his pedigree, there is a good chance that Lydia Richards’ 8-year-old will improve now that he tackles chasing. He is a son of Midnight Legend, who has a 61% strike rate with his progeny as chasers and he is from the family of Venetian Lad, who won 9 times over fences for the yard. He finished 4th over hurdles at Fontwell on Boxing Day, chasing home Not at Present, who was completing a hat-trick and Khan (2nd) who won on his next start at Ludlow. Certainly Red was only beaten by 4-lengths and that offers a good indicator into his well-being. In a small field he is likely to be a very decent price to make a winning start over fences against some higher rated rivals with some questionable chase experience.
2:50 Wincanton – Dorking Lad
Gary Moore is having a fantastic time of things now, a 29% strike rate in the last 14 days, an RTF ration of 56% and 57 winners already this season. DORKING LAD looks to have a little bit to find in this Handicap Chase, but a closer examination of his form would suggest that he may be better than his current mark of 114. He returned from a 50-day break to finish 2nd at Huntingdon earlier this month, beaten less than 2-lengths by Our Power, who has won 2 of his last 3 starts and is rated 22lbs higher on 136. That was easily his best effort over fences and would suggest that he is very well treated on a 1lb lower mark than for that effort. He remains unexposed after just 12 career starts and enters open handicaps at a fair level based on the form he has achieved. All of his best form has come on right-handed tracks and given that the yard is going so well.
