3:20 Sedgefield – Fleeting Blue
It is important to remember that horses run in Class 5 races for a reason, more than likely because they are out of form, inconsistent or in many cases simply of limited ability. This contest looks to revolve around the 2 last time out winners and highest rated, Lime Drop and Alright Marlene. That pair offer the only solid recent form coming into the race, but they both have 11-12 on their backs, which won’t be an easy burden to carry on the soft ground so it could be worth chancing FLEETING BLUE each-way on her handicap debut.
She didn’t set the world alight on the flat but improved significantly over hurdles and was beaten just under 8-lengths at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. She enters handicaps on a workable mark of just 89 and the hood is now applied for this debut. Tony Coyle has a limited number of runners over obstacles, but his record at Sedgefield offers some encouragement with 8 runners, 1 winner and 5 places. She is a half-sister to Broken Spear, who was a 90 rated flat horse in his prime and so it will be disappointing if she can’t make her mark at this lowly level and her connections look to have found a weak race for her handicap debut.
3:30 Huntingdon – Loud as Lions
He has been off the track for the best part of 2-years, but LOUD AS LIONS returns from that absence in an extremely weak race and now that Tom Symonds yard appear to have turned the corner, he could be worth chancing on his return. He has won following an absence in the past and whilst he has clearly had his issues, he has won 2 of his 4 starts over fences and could have more potential than most of his rivals on a mark of just 107.
He has had a wind operation for the second time whilst he has been away and it is worth noting that he won his last race, over this course and distance, following his first wind operation. The yard look to be following the same pattern with him. If you backed all of Tom Symonds runners over fences at Huntingdon, you would make a profit of +£11 to a £1 stake on the Tote at a 21% strike rate. He is fragile and has his quirks, but this is a very weak contest and looks to be an ideal opportunity for him on his return.
