BEN’S GREAT HAUL Pauling ready to strike again
PUT your faith in the Great and the good for the Coral Trophy.
BOWTOGREATNESS (3.37) looks ready to peak for in-form duo Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.
He has had only two starts this season and he should be spot-on after running with promise over 2m4f at Cheltenham last month.
The return to an easy 3m on Kempton’s sharp track should be ideal. He’s relatively unexposed over this distance and, if his excellent second at Aintree on Grand National day is anything to go by, it suits him well. Have 2pts each-way at 8-1.
Sky Bet is paying out on five places.
In the same race, I can’t resist having a few quid on UNANSWERED PRAYERS (3.37).
He’s trained by another in-form man in Chris Gordon and he’s had a breathing op since he last ran.
His form from the autumn gives him a chance. He twice tipped up at the last fence in Ascot races when running well. At 16-1, it’s worth having 1pt each-way.
Earlier on the card, Gordon has another decent chance of adding to his hot streak. His SEA INVASION (1.15) looks to have been let in lightly for his handicap debut.
He’s run well in all three of his novice races behind some smart prospects.
His sole run in an Irish point-to-point also worked out well as he finished runner-up behind subsequent Grade 2 hurdle winner Slade Steel.
The step up to 2m4f for the first time is just what he wants. Have 2pts win at 11-2. Few races demand more stamina than Newcastle’s Betting.Bet Eider Chase. The marathon 4m1f trip on heavy ground will find out most horses but not FLOWER OF SCOTLAND (2.08).
She landed the Borders National over 4m at Kelso last season and she ran a sound race when third in the Edinburgh National despite finding Musselburgh’s track too sharp.
Her only run this season came when pulled up at Carlisle in November but her trainer, Sandy Thomson, has been firing in the winners in recent weeks so her wellbeing should not be a concern. Have 2pts win at 7-1.