DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY MAY 7
1.45 HUNTINGDON
As if we needed any reminding, yesterday’s action at Chester once again proved punting around the Roodeye is pure equine bingo and with nothing making any appeal there today, the card whole is given a wide berth.
Half the trouble is everyone is trying back the same horses (usually those low drawn), which often means you end up playing at the wrong price and, unlike other tracks, you know you are in trouble if your horse misses the break or becomes slightly out of position early (Snow Master and Arctic Thunder examples yesterday).
Maybe there might be something of interest tomorrow, but for today, looking for slightly easier pickings away from the main action, PEP TALKING comes across as one of the better options over the jumps and Billy Aprahamian’s gelding can justify that view at the main expense of serial runner-up, William Cody.
Unlike his main market rival, the eight-year-old hasn’t forgotten how to win and when presented with a decent opportunity at Chepstow last time out, he grasped the chance with both hands.
In-keeping with the way he likes to race, he took the bull by the horns from early stage at the Welsh track and jumped well at the head of affairs and although momentarily threatened for the lead down the home straight, he stayed on strongly to fend off the challengers.
Equally as effective beyond two miles, as he proved when scoring at Wetherby three starts previously, another attacking ride can bring about further success for a team who predominantly punched above their weight during the last campaign.
PEP TALKING – 1-point win@7-4
5.35 WEXFORD
There are five chase races on this evening programme at the Waterford venue, and the second contest could go the way of BUTTER FINGERS if he can finally piece it all together over fences.
Ross O’Sullivan’s grey hasn’t quite managed to build on the back-to-back successes he produced on his first two starts for his current handler during the summer of 2024, but his latest effort over hurdles at Cork gained hope that he might be capable of returning to the glory days.
In a well-run affair at the Mallow venue, the son of Tough As Nails kept on nicely to finish a close-up sixth behind the useful Saint Lucie and with the speed figure of the race speaking in favour of those in the first half a dozen, he comes here in better shape than the market suggests.
Back over fences, he will need to avoid the sort of mistake which saw him hit the deck on his only start around today’s chase course in the past but providing he puts in a clear round, he has enough ability to feature in a race of this nature.
BUTTER FINGERS – ½ point each-way@11-1 (four places)