15:55 Towcester
Thursday 2 February 2017
All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:25
Home Of The Greyhound Derby July 1st Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 5  |  3m 102y  |  Heavy  |  9 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:55Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 43.89s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Inconsistent and as many bad runs as good ones, but takes a drop in grade here and will find this easier. Questionable whether he wants a three mile slog in the mud, though, and on that basis, there are more likely winners.
Stays well enough but doesn't win often, with last Rules win a handicap chase back in 2015. Handles soft/heavy but seems to prefer better ground, and recent spell pointing hardly inspires confidence today.
Tends to race on-and-off the bridle in his races and can appear a hard ride, but stays well and won this last year from a 7lb lower mark. Predicting going days never easy, but goes well for Brendan Powell and can't be discounted here, with trip and ground both ideal.
Slight concern that only effort at Towcester (back in 2014) was a poor one, but that aside is in good form after only just being touched off in a three-way finish at Wincanton latest, staying on strongly after the last. All ground seems to come alike, and in such a weak event, has a chance if building on that Wincanton effort.
Much better effort at Hereford latest (second run back after an eight month break) looking like run would bring him on fitness wise, and although wins have come at shorter he stays this trip well. Best efforts seem to come at Ffos Las these days, but is effective elsewhere, and can't be discounted.
Shown next to nothing in six starts, and jumping was an issue when last seen too. Needs huge improvement from somewhere, and difficult to see where that's coming from.
Only the four chase starts so far, but promise on two of them including when just touched off at Wincanton last time (Shanann Star just behind in third), staying on well. Ground here is a concern (runs on heavy not as good as on quicker) but that aside, holds chances.
Mixes chasing with hurdling and one of his better efforts at Lingfield last time when second to Burgess Dream (hurdles, form took a knock earlier in the week) but inconsistent and only the one chase victory from 19 starts to date. Goes on all ground and stays well, but still more likely winners.
On the downgrade these days and jumping isn't always foot perfect, but close fourth to Walk On Al at Ffos Las in December shows he's still capable of the odd decent effort. Only chase win came at Uttoxeter last season when everything else pulled up, and looks an unlikely winner here.
Forecasts
Try It Sometime (3/1), Trehan Cross (9/2), Cheat The Cheater (5/1), Shanann Star (11/2), Flugzeug (6/1), Magical Man (8/1), Winston Churchill (14/1), Shy John (16/1), Away Down West (66/1)
Some old adversaries get on the Towcester merry-go-round, and these contests seem to throw up a different winner every time. Predicting which of them is on a going day is the key, and to that end CHEAT THE CHEATER is a bit more predictable than most. Last year's winner has plenty going for him here, and he gets on well with Brendan Powell too. It may not be pleasant to watch, but hopefully he'll get there at the expense of Trehan Cross, who may well have a bit more improvement in him and Magical Man, who tends to save his best for Wales these days but can plod on into third here.
1. Cheat The Cheater
2. Trehan Cross
3. Magical Man
Prize Money
1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00
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