WHILLANS IS GOING IN WITH BOTH BARRELS
DONALD WHILLANS (right) has had an excellent year and he can maintain his impressive strike rate with BOTH BARRELS (Kelso, 2.30) in the modest Support QME Care Handicap Hurdle.
Both Barrells isn’t bred to be anything special but he’s shown plenty of ability since his bumper debut and has never been out of the first four.
I believe the assessor has underestimated him, and despite being beaten on handicap debut, that form looks good for the grade and he’s taken to make immediate amends.
On that handicap debut at Ayr, he ran into easy Carlisle winner Eire Street, rated 106 now but off 98 under a penalty there, while third-placed Dance Thief was a handicap winner next time out.
Both Barrels remains unexposed and can race off the same mark as for that run over 2½m, while he promises to be suited by the longer trip here.
Being 5lb out of the handicap, I doubt many will give QUANAH (2.30. Redcar, Nap) a second thought in the Watch Live On Racing TV Handicap.
Fitness
But Liam Bailey’s sprinter has fitness on his side after four runs since the start of March and his latest run when drawn wide at Chelmsford is easily excused.
He had gone down narrowly on heavy ground at Catterick when leading until the dying strides but relegated to third on the line.
That was in a weaker handicap than this, but it shows how well Quanah acts on heavy ground, and his lifetime record in the mud is a very respectable four wins and eight places from 22 runs, with his record in soft or heavy ground in this class reading 122.
He may not be quite the force of old, but at this time of year fitness and an ability to cope with the ground count for plenty, so at 16/1 and bigger, I’m happy to take a swing. Whillans can notch an across-the-card double in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap courtesy of the in-form
PALLAS LORD (4.42), who has been placed exceptionally well to win seven handicaps o.
Drawn to attack from stall 3 (he was in stall 2 for his previous C&D win) there is no reason why he can’t strike again.