Our star daily duo of Rory Delargy and David Massey enjoyed a superb week last week - check out today's preview and tips.
0.5pts e.w. Pierrefonds in 3:35 Southwell at 7/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) - min 13/2
0.5pts e.w. Rock N Roll Pinkie in 5:45 Southwell at 13/2 (Sky Bet, Betfred 1/5 1,2,3) - min 5/1
PIERREFONDS was going nowhere very quickly for his connections until someone had the bright idea of upping him markedly in trip, which immediately improved the situation for him. Beaten under a length over Wolverhampton's extended nine furlongs two starts back, he took another huge step up in trip when third over 14f here last time out, seeing out the trip well, although the way the race unfolded left him poorly placed.
We’re back to twelve furlongs here, which could suit, and basically we’re only just finding out what ability he has now he’s running at the right sort of trips. There's an entry on Wednesday at Brighton he could yet take up as well, and I expect a decent showing here.
Smart Charger is worth a look on his first run for Alan King, having left Tony Carroll, too. He should be at home under the conditions, his best effort so far coming over 11 furlongs at Kempton last autumn, but he might just need the run after 191 days off the track.
Specialist View is a hard one to call in some respects, as she didn’t improve on her second run back from an absence but I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt as she looked sure to win races based on her third in a Classified event here in March, her first run for a year, and it wasn’t as if it was a dreadful effort when fourth to Masham Moor (reopposes on 3lb worse terms today) last time, she just ran a little flat, and possibly our old friend the “bounce” factor came into play a little.
Regardless, De Sousa is back in the saddle today, which is a plus, and this unexposed filly still has time to get her career back on track.
A trappy little handicap where cases can be made for virtually all of them, but I suspect ROCK N ROLL PINKIE will reverse last-time-out form with Churchella, and might be a bit of value.
On that occasion, there was only half a length between them at the finish, and that after Rock N Roll Pinkie found trouble in running that saw her pushed to the back of the pack on the home turn, and hand the advantage to Churchella, who got a much better run through.
A 2lb turn around in the weights obviously helps, but it’s also worth bearing in mind Churchella was race-fit after two runs in March, whereas the selection was making her reappearance after a late-winter break. De Sousa taking over in the saddle for a yard he’s got a 20% strike rate for makes her even more interesting, and with a bit of luck, the market will ignore her as she’s not got a 1 or 2 by her name last time out, whereas many of the others do.
Three places on offer with a few firms looks the way to play.
Posted at 0954 BST on 29/04/24
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