Know your "Place" and don't take unnecessary chances! Patience is the supreme virtue, in horse-racing especially and so, never tire as you pursue a worthwhile objective. I've waited six weeks for the Finale Junior Hurdle over two miles at Chepstow today, patiently! Thirty-five-grand is up for grabs and though the majority will reckon it's done and dusted, that there can only be one "Winner" of this highly-prestigious Triumph Hurdle trial, I'll take my chance with thrice-raced, Smad Place, so impressive when winning unchallenged at Newbury back in November, by 27 LENGTHS!
Alan King trains Smad Place, Wayne Hutchinson is again booked and though Tony McCoy will expect to partner the "Winner", this is a rare opportunity of a solid weekend betting proposition, which is significant. Saturday racing is all about colossal turnover, extreme opinions, which means scope for a good-priced punt. On my time-handicap, Sam Winner will have it all on to beat Smad Place in what promises to be a fascinating, intriguing race down the long, unrelenting straight of this picturesque Welsh venue. Paul Nicholls' charge has won both his races, in good style and so Sam Winner will undoubtedly be odds-on favourite but I'll play seriously, Smad Place, a time-handicap special.
Lingfield stages the obligatory polytrack fixture (all-weather has become somewhat of a misnomer!) and Amwell Pinot is reckoned a special, for the five-runner 3-y-o handicap over a mile. Amwell Pinot hasn't been out for 137 days but was readied for a race which was cancelled last week. It stands to reason, Alan Bailey will have managed a gallop in the meantime for our clear, top-rated nap selection, mount of Cathy Gannon. None better!
Earlier, Nothing To Hide will beat a clutch of moderates in the Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs. It's taking a long time to get that elusive first success. Perhaps this first attempt at a genuine "middle-distance" will be the answer.
SELECTIONS
RACE 5 (#6) NOTHING TO HIDE
RACE 11 (#7) SMAD PLACE
RACE 14 (#9) RIO ROYALE (e.w.)
RACE 34 (#1) AMWELL PINOT (nap)