Pickings are very much on the slim
side at Ffos Las and Market Rasen today, and finding a reliable betting medium
isn’t easy. There are few obvious bets around, but a bit of digging will
hopefully gain its reward.
At Ffos Las, the “Braceys The Friendly Builders
Merchant” Novices´ Handicap Chase at 14:50 is a race which makes minimal appeal at first glance, with only
Orange Nassau and Derwen Pride having shown any form last time out. That pair
are expected to dominate if the market is to be believed, but neither looks
well treated, with Orange Nassau firmly put in his place in a 5-runner affair
last time, and hailing from a yard whose runners of late have been showing
worrying signs that all isn’t well. He’s sure to start favourite as his record
is less patchy than that of his rivals, but I can’t bring myself to back a
Charlie Longsdon horse at present (only one of the yard’s last 10 runners over
jumps has been beaten less than 25 lengths, which is a serious concern for such
a fastidious operation). Derwen Pride has been beaten on all 5 starts at Ffos
las, and hails from a yard which is going through its now-typical winter drought.
Peter Bowen’s last winner came in the shape of Sizing Santiago at Newbury in
November, and he went through a similar barren spell at the same time last
year.
Material
Boy and Russian Song both ran poorly last time, and get a change of headgear
today, with the former trying both a visor and tongue tie for the first time,
and the latter having his usual cheekpieces swapped for blinkers. That could be
enough to spark either or both to life, but the one who makes most appeal is Callhimwhatyouwant. Dr Richard Newland
has his team in excellent order, with Ardkilly Witness running a blinder to be
second in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Haydock yesterday, and all of
his runners in February running at least respectably, and he has developed a
reputation as having a very keen eye for recruits from the pointing field. He
may well have unearthed another one with this son of Old Vic out of a
full-sister to Pertemps Hurdle third Alexanderthegreat, with their dam herself
a half-sister to Fissure Seal, who won that contest under its former guise. It’s
fair to say that Callhimwhatyouwant
is bred to stay extremely well, and his ventures over hurdles for his current
yard are likely to be eclipsed given this switch to fences and step up in trip.
The selections was known as a bold-jumping front runner in his time between the
flags, and he wasn’t out of the first 2 in 5 completed starts in the 2011/12
campaign. The highlight, arguably, was an unlucky defeat (rider lost irons at
last before rallying strongly) at the hands of the very useful Carthalawn at
Horse & Jockey last March. That came in an open contest, and while assessing
point form can be fraught with danger, that looks easily good enough form to
win a race like this. A return to forcing tactics looks on the cards today, and
that is expected to coincide with a change of fortune.
The
“Sun Trade Windows” Handicap Chase at 15:20 provides another opportunity to
take advantage of the Ferdy Murphy to Tom George angle which has provided
several winners this season. The Crossed Fingers Partnership have seen their
colours carried to success by Big Fella Thanks, Desperate Dex and Gods Own this
season, with the first pair both making the move south to Tom George from
Murphy’s Leyburn yard. The latest of their horses to make that transition is Seigneur des Bois, who scored off today’s
handicap mark at Southwell in April 2011 before losing his way somewhat last
season. Still only a 7-y-o, he’s open to improvement, and looks potentially
well treated on his current mark. That win came of good ground, but it was more
likely a return to form for the yard, rather than underfoot conditions which
was responsible, and he’s bred to need deeper ground and a longer trip, both of
which he gets today. If his new trainer can coax him back to the form he showed
over fences as a youngster for Adrien Lacombe, then he would look something of
a good thing.
Recommended Bets:
Back Callhimwhatyouwant in the 14:50 Ffos Las @ [7.2] (NAP)
Back Seigneur des Bois in the 15:20
FFos Las @ [7.0] (NB)
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