Friday

[Lars]

The favourite in this contest may look difficult to beat, especially as he’s not penalised for a decent victory five days ago. However, he’ll encounter much different ground today and I think that DRUSSELL (14:10) can bounce back to something like his best today, especially as he’s been given plenty of time to get over his exertions from his last race. The Richard Phillips trained six year old was at one point rated as high as 131 in the ratings after two early-career successes over hurdles but has fallen to a much more realistic level in the meantime, and is now rated 100. His recent form however hasn’t been too disappointing, with his penultimate effort over this C&D making him of big interest. He shaped really well to finish 2nd, 11 lengths clear of 3rd. That race hasn’t worked out behind him but the winner has gone on to be rated 138 over hurdles and it rates as fair form, especially as Drussell gave him plenty to think about until the closing stages. He isn’t the most consistent horse generally, but his effort when last seen only 8 days later was too bad to be true, especially when sent off a well-backed 3/1 shot. He was beaten a fair way out and it shouldn’t have been the going that had caught him out, as he had previous winning form on soft ground. The run almost certainly came too soon, and that Huntingdon effort did come in a race that was run into a headwind, so it probably took more out of him than it looked.

Today he returns to Huntingdon and over conditions he should enjoy, as he handles soft ground and obviously doesn’t mind the track itself. He’s 1lb higher than the aforementioned effort but I still think he has the potential to run about 10lbs higher than his current rating if everything falls into place, which after a 42 day break might not be so unlikely. The booking of Richard Johnson is one of intent (15% strike-rate for the yard) and this one is a decent value price I feel, and anything upwards of about 5/1 is worth investing in. Wise Move will be a tough nut to crack if in the same form, but I don’t really feel there’s much else in the contest worth worrying about from a value perspective, such horses like Turbo De Ranch probably being priced about right and on connections. I feel that Drussell still has mileage in his current mark at this distance; he should enjoy the ground and can give it a really good shot here today, this double figure price looks too big and I’m staking accordingly.

Bets
14:10 Huntingdon – DRUSSELL; 3pts @ 10/1 Ladbrokes, BetVictor, William Hill (bog)

[broadsword]

Snap

[nYxxernar]

Small word for Master dOr in the 2.00 at Fontwell.

He is showing more at home and they think conditions are perfect today. i won't be backing as i don't like backing 12 year olds at the best of times

[Norton]

Originally Posted by nYxxernar

Small word for Master dOr in the 2.00 at Fontwell. He is showing more at home and they think conditions are perfect today. i won't be backing as i don't like backing 12 year olds at the best of times

d'oh!

[Lars]

Nice info there, shame I weren't on but appreciated all the same.

Drussell drifted out to a big price before being really well-supported (into 9/2). Ran a cracker to be honest, traded 1.40 but just faded after the final fence. It was a bold effort but not sure I'd be on again.