DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9
1.50 CHEPSTOW
Captain Bellamy is the real marquee act in this novices’ hurdle, but it might not be all plain sailing for Paul Nicholls’ inmate and SHADE OF WINTER (best price 3-1) is one of many who can upset the applecart.
Placed in all three of his assignments so far to date, Evan Williams’ inmate went closest here last time out when just going under to the useful Julius Des Pictons on Welsh National day and with the speed figure from that contest suggesting it was a smart one for the grade, it’s fair to say he continues to progress in the right direction.
Moreover, the fact he has now run at the Welsh venue three times is sure to give him some sort of advantage over today’s rivals and with an extra half a mile to travel also seen as a plus based on his pedigree, the son of Affinisea has bright prospects of finally gaining a deserved success.
SHADE OF WINTER – 1-point win@3-1
2.30 EXETER
Regent’s Stroll is undeniably a nice prospect, but he is one of those horses who is often priced up on reputation rather than what he has achieved, and he is worth taking on with the likes of FINGLE BRIDGE (best price 9-1) and JULIUS DES PICTONS (best price 10-1).
The former was made to work harder than his odds implied at Market Rasen last time out, but the data revealed it was a far better performance than at first glance and he must be afforded plenty of credit for lifting himself off the canvas.
His main market rival at the Lincolnshire venue, Wellington Arch, was trapping along at a fair old rate of knots from the front and it looked for all the world as though Olly Murphy’s inmate was going to come out second best. However, he really knuckled down to the task at hand, eventually wearing down his prey close home, and with this race nominated straight afterwards as his next likely target, the plan could easily be executed with softer ground very much in his favour.
The latter emerged out of the fog at Chepstow last time out with him well on top and his time figure also suggested his effort was an above average one for a race of its kind. Although he has scored over much further twice earlier in the season, a well-run contest over the minimum trip on soft ground clearly plays into his strengths just as well and even though his current rating suggests he has a bit to find with the main protagonists, he is more than capable of punching above his weight.
FINGLE BRIDGE – ½ point win@9-1
JULIUS DES PICTONS – ½ point win@10-1
3.33 EXETER
Easily one of the most competitive versions of the Pertemps Qualifiers for the final at Cheltenham this side of the Irish Sea and KEABLE (best price 13-2) is fancied to book his place for the festival with a positive result.
An easy winner over a subsequent winner over today’s course two starts ago, the eight-year-old was just as impressive in a much tougher contest at Newbury last time out and with plenty of progressive types well beaten off in behind, his performance suggested he is very much on the improve.
Proving he stays three miles in soft ground well at the Berkshire venue, he now returns to the west country to seek out his hat trick and in a race that should be run to suit, the son of Fame And Glory rates a decent each-way proposition at the morning odds.
KEABLE – 1-point each-way@13-2