SATURDAY 23rd march 2024

 

Given the above-named bookmakers are paying 3 places, the price of SOLO looks great value. He is on a high handicap mark of 149 and has to carry top weight but the 5lb claim of Freddie Gingell brings his mark down to 144. SOLO is a very good horse when fresh and he comes into this race after 91 days off the track. Coming back from more than 60 days off the track, his form reads 14211P2. That 3 wins and two 2nd’s from 7 starts, coming back from over 60 days. The one negative is he runs mostly around right handed courses but the one time he did run at Newbury, he came home 2nd. This is a weaker race than he has been running in and although he has to give weight away to the field, he should make the places at the very least. E/W.

 

 

We have 2 selections in this race. 

 

MIGRATION won this race last year and will have to defy a 4lb rise in the handicap. It is going to be very hard, no question about it but I am sure trainer David Menuisier will have him primed to defend his crown once again. He is a horse who goes so well fresh. His first start of the season going back to 2019 and his form reads 2421. If you are going to catch him in the winners, it is generally in his first couple of starts before his form starts to tail off. He also loves heavy and soft ground and won this last year on heavy ground and a valuable handicap at Goodwood on heavy ground. They put the talented Paddy Bradley on board and he claims 3lb. While it may be difficult to win off this mark, we know he will be fit and we know he likes to course and ground. At the price he is worth taking a chance. E/W.

 

VETIVER is an improving 4 year old who looks to have been overlooked in the market. I am not sure why she is as big a price as she is as her form is rock solid. She is very lightly raced with on 7 career starts and her form on soft ground is excellent. It reads 1415. Her latest run was in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot where she came home 5th of 20 and prior to that she was 3rd in a group 3 and a listed winner at Carlisle. At the end of last season I marked her down as a 4 year old who could be ahead of the handicapper on a mark of 98. She has won 3 of her 7 starts and placed on all other starts but one. David Probert takes the ride and I would not be surprised to see her go very close. E/W.

 

Good Luck