Asdaa to cash in at Chepstow
ASDAA can make the long journey worthwhile from his North Yorkshire base to Chepstow, in the bet365 Handicap.
Mark Johnston’s four-year-old probably ran a little better than his final finishing position suggested at Chester recently.
He finished sixth behind Gallipoli, but that only tells half the story really.
Having stumbled on leaving the stalls, he was immediately on the back foot - which is never a good thing on that unique, tight track.
Given he normally races prominently and he was drawn in stall one, the plan would surely have been to make all, but Joe Fanning had to sit and suffer.
Fanning basically accepted his fate. But Asdaa did make some late gains suggesting he might not be badly handicapped - and given he has won off 86 and is now down to 85, with a clear run this time, he should go close.
Tom Dascombe’s front-runner Sermon ran a big race at Haydock last time out, and may be more at home in a smaller field.
He looked a sitting duck on Merseyside as the field bore down on him, but he stuck to his guns gamely to be beaten only a length into fourth.
There are only five rivals in the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap and off the same mark, he looks the one to beat.
Marlay Park had the misfortune of bumping into subsequent Gimcrack winner Minzaal on his debut at Salisbury.
While Richard Hannon’s colt was no match at all for that one, he faces only two rivals and has an obvious opportunity in the bet365 EBF Novice Stakes.
Iain Jardine’s Bulls Aye ran a promising race on debut and can break his duck at the second time of asking too, in the Start Your Career With Scottish Racing Academy Maiden Auction Stakes at Musselburgh.
The son of Intello wore blinkers for his first run but proved he had an engine when fourth at Ayr last month.
It was a decent event, with the winner Darvel going on to run in the Acomb and the second Toussarok rated 85.
That was over six furlongs, and understandably he moves up to seven now -which looking at his breeding, should suit. It will take a good one to beat him.