Boots can walk all over rivals in Stratford clash
Toughasoldboots (2.30) can sink one into the layers at Stratford today.
The Open golf is centre stage this weekend but there’s money to be made on the racing fairways.
Once again, small fields are the order of the day at this time of the year over the Jumps and it’s not easy to find any value.
However, the mare could have been handed a cracking opportunity to resume winning ways having triumphed at Huntingdon in May.
Dona ld McCain’s charge was a nice winner that day but has been beaten twice since with the handler opting to switch around with trips.
Toughasoldboots didn’t get home over three miles when third at Uttoxeter then lacked the speed to be competitive over two when filling the same spot at Cartmel.
However, McCain now returns the four-year-old to her last winning trip of 2m 3f with Brian Hughes back in the plate.
That definitely makes Toughasoldboots worthy of strong support in a highly-winnable contest.
There’s a few others of interest earlier on the card including CARDBOARD GANGSTER (1.00) in the novices’ chase.
David Jeff reys is a shrewd operator and seemed to have found the key when he stepped the grey up to three miles to score at Perth recently.
Interestingly, Jeffreys has now chosen to send him back over 2m 3f for this next assignment.
Either that’s a move for handicapping purposes with an eye on a future job or there’s some sound thinking in there.
Tom Bellamy has been booked so you’d hope it’s the latter and you might get a price against likely jolly Sarjeant Painter.
Later, RAFIKI (1.59) looks a smart prospect for the Alan King team.
The dual - purpose trainer has his mind on the Flat right now but still finds opportunities for his summer jumpers.
Rafiki appeared to be learning on the job when getting up in the final strides to grab a debut win over course and distance.
Bellamy also takes the ride on this one and the four-year-old can claim a trappy little heat.
MUCANA (4.35) did the business for us last weekend and I can see no reason to desert him at Newton Abbot.
Milton Harris knows the time of day and has placed this juvenile very well to win while picking up plenty of experience along the way.
The trainer is known for his horses going on long winning runs and I’m sticking with the gelding to defy another rise in class seven days on.
Redcar stages seven races on the level and the opener can go to Mark and Charlie Johnston’s DUBAI MILE (2.05) on debut.
The Middleham duo also send VENETIAN (2.40) and the juvenile must be showing plenty at home given the punt which saw him raged into 13/8 from 7/1 at Lingfield last month.
The gamble was foiled as the colt found one too good in a close finish but compensation awaits.
L’IMPERTINENT (4.07) looks well-capable of running his opponents ragged for Enda Bolger at Tipperary.
KNIGHTLAILA (2.45) is a decent each-way price for Johnny Murtagh in the AK Bets Handicap on the Flat at the Curragh.