Wednesday 3 February 2016

Chief to lead the way

Today I'm off to Newcastle but before we go let's take a quick look at the final race on the card at 4.20.

I can’t be the only one waiting to see Clan Chief on the course again. He’s had several targets called off lately but this looks like a good opportunity to win his first race over fences. 

A lovely looker, he may well have won Retrieve The Stick’s race at Sedgefield but for a soft unseat mid-race. 

He had every right to win easily back over timber on bad ground, and he’s the kind of horse I think will look better in better races.

I don’t think his jumping will be an issue and we know from his stablemates that the trainer’s horses are well handicapped after a dire season last term. 

Willie Hall looks his only serious danger and although he’s clearly in good form he has picked up a couple of fairly soft races. Up another 7lb, I’m happy to take him on. 

Pamak D’Airy may have one more race in him off this mark but that might need to be a weaker race than this. I’m not a fan of Retrieve The Stick who seems to need everything to fall right. That Sedgefield form isn’t much. 

It says plenty that connections are happy to run Home For Tea from 4lb wrong and he will be popular after showing up well last time.

But he looked far from straight forward prior to his Musselburgh exit and looks to have a very questionable attitude. He’s undoubtedly well handicapped but for my money is one to take on if still travelling into the straight.

Tissue; 3 Clan Chief, 7/2 Willie Hall, 5 Home For Tea, 7 Retrieve The Stick, 10 Pamak D'Airy, 16 Pekanheim, Gin Cobbler, 20 Suprise Vendor, Rosquero. 105%


Conclusion; Clan Chief may want further than this ideally but they shouldn’t be hanging around with Gin Cobbler and Suprise Vendor hopefully making it. He’s very well handicapped and a confident choice to see off some dodgy opponents, although it’s hard to crab Willie Hall’s attitude of late and he’s the obvious threat. I can't back anything else here.

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