BRONCO TO SLOG IT OUT
WITH 18 horses in the Betfred Midlands Grand National (3.35) over 4m 2f at Uttoxeter, I’m going to back BILLY BRONCO (3.35) each-way at 33-1 with layers paying 1-2-3-4 a quarter the odds a place.
With only 10st 4lb on his back, this out-and-out stayer will think he is running loose, and as he landed a bumper at Towcester in desperate ground last January, we know he will handle these very testing conditions. Connections of
KILDISART (2.40) were cursing their luck when their horse missed the cut by two in a race at Cheltenham yesterday.
But the beast can gain compensation by landing the Matchbook Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at Kempton.
Ben Pauling’s horse would have finished a lot closer at Ascot last time out but for a bad blunder at the penultimate flight, but he showed his liking for this course when second of 14 on Boxing Day over today’s trip. Rated 128 on that occasion, he still looks well treated running off a revised perch of 135.
In the Betway Handicap over an extended nine furlongs, ABE LINCOLN gets my vote.
Jeremy Noseda’s progressive creature snared a 10-furlong handicap at Lingfield Park off a mark of 95 at the end of February. The assessor has only hiked the five-year-old to a new perch of 97, so we must take full advantage of this rare act of generosity.
When OK BY ME (8.15) joined Ian Williams she was rated 54, but after three quiet runs, she runs off a mark of 47 in the Sunbets Handicap.
The four-year-old ran well last time, and I’m sure this filly will at least trouble the judge.