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Friday 17 April 2015

Dubai Duty Free Handicap



Firstly for anyone viewing this blog for the first time this season please note you can comment on any of my posts, selections or results by clicking on "comments" at the foot of each post.

Well we didn't do too badly yesterday with Run For Pride advised at 12/1 finishing a running on 2nd at Chelmsford last night only losing out to the Fallon ridden winner. Renato Sousa had the selection in last place turning in before she came up the rail with a rattle. He's one to keep in mind now that he has this race under his belt.

Today we have the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury over 5f. The going is reported as being Good to Firm, Good in places and with the sun beating down it should be Good to Firm all over by race time.

It's a small field and a few have race fitness to overcome - namely Steps, who always goes best second time out and prefers cut, according to his trainer and Noble Storm who is 9 now. Lucky Beggar also prefers some give in the going to show his best and he's not going to get that today. I'm not overly convinced by the Fav Robot Boy and therefore I'm looking for a bit of value in what is an open race.

Boom The Groom (12/1) has been running consistently well under William Carson on the All Weather all winter and in doing so has been coming up against Godolphin's Group 1 aspiring Pretend. Boom The Groom has done well in the circumstances, winning three and finishing second four times from 12 runs on AW showing plenty of speed and good form and wont have Pretend to worry about this time. He has won on good to firm albeit it was his first run as a 2yo and he could be open to improvement on turf, having improved 18lbs on the All Weather since Tony Carroll has had him and hopefully he will outrun his price with Richard Hughes taking over in the saddle.
Normal Equilibrium (8/1) could also run well for sprint maestro Robert Cowell. He won first time out at Chelmsford beating the good yardstick in Mappin Time and he was reportedly woolly in his coat so he should come on a lot for that run. He's got a fast action so you would think he wouldn't have a problem with the fast conditions. It was his best ever Racing Post Rating last time out and he may be open to further improvement on this his second season with Robert Cowell. The trainer has only had 1 more runner since Normal Equilibrium won at Chelmsford and that was Stunned who also won last night at Chelmsford.

Both of the above have been on the drift in the betting this am as there has been sustained support for Robot Boy hence the later post.

I have backed both at the ew prices and maybe a permed exacta with Robot Boy could also be an alternative.