MARTINI HAS’ A NEW’ LEASE OF LIFE
TRAINERS are creatures of habit, so it’s always encouraging to see a trainer you follow campaign a horse in a way which is similar to one previously successful, even if the formbook tells you the horse ought to be of no interest.
That’s what struck me about the apparently moderate PURPLE MARTINI (8.30 Nap), who makes her nursery debut for Ben Haslam in the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Nursery Handicap at Newcastle.
The daughter of Mayson showed some ability on her first two starts and then was given a six-week break before returning to action at Carlisle on faster ground, where she was disappointing.
It’s hard to take much from her latest run to suggest she’s going the right way, but her half-brother On The River was unplaced on his first three starts at 100/1, 100/1 and 400/1 before almost landing a gamble on his nursery debut last year — he went on to make amends at the second attempt.
Like Purple Martini, On The River and their dam Lady Lekki were trained by Ben Haslam.
Maidens
The Middleham trainer has a good record with such horses, often well beaten in maidens before showing improved form for the switch to handicaps.
At Warwick, I’m keen to press up the angle of backing Charlie Longsdon’s horses in September, and he has an intriguing runner in the Poundland Foundation Proudly Supports Whizz Kidz Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase in the shape of CALIDAD (4.45).
On top of the angle regarding Longsdon’s record with his jumpers in September, there is also a very profitable angle in backing the horses which have recently joined him from other yards.
Backing all such horses blind would have produced impressive profits of €1,928.00 to a tenner stake at SP, and Calidad is a prime candidate to show improved form having been bought out of the Harry Whittington stable.
Calidad split useful subsequent winners Datsalrightgino and Wiseguy in a maiden hurdle at Fontwell last autumn, and that shows him to have above average ability.