I don’t know about you, but when I finally nail an all-winning multiple wager I really want to blow it out of the park so for the sake of our Sunday Lucky 31 challenge let’s go for the jugular and make it an each-way play with some juicy prices.
The term ‘eye catcher’ can be massively misconstrued, but The Dabbler has taken both my blue misties out twice this season. I have been waiting for the six-year-old to firstly drop down to two-and-a-half miles and secondly make his mark on better ground. And bingo, cue the 20-furlong handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse due off at 2.20.
On his last two runs, the selection has either seen too much daylight by being sent off in front and/or plain and simply not had the stamina to deal with lung-bursting trips.
Following three runs in maiden hurdle company, the son of Presenting sets out on his handicap journey off an initial mark of 114 and I am sure he is much better than that. Anything around the 16/1 mark would fit the bill to kick start our wager.
The lowest-priced horse in our bet comes courtesy of Kildorrery in the grade B novice handicap chase at 3.50.
I have always been of the opinion that a well run two and a half miles stretches his stamina but with Impact Factor set to line up a fast run race at the minimum trip looks right up his street. Stand by for a slowly, slowly, creeper closer trademark ride by R Walsh.
The David Pipe-trained and hat-trick seeking Legal History makes the market for the rest of us in the feature handicap hurdle at Plumpton at 3.25 and affords us selection number three in the form of Michael’s Mount.
Ian Williams’ charge had been off the track for a year before a nice starter-for-10 at Leicester on the flat at the beginning of the month with a view to teeing up for this valuable contest.
He runs off a 2lbs lower mark than when disappointing for a competitive handicap hurdle at the 2018 Aintree National meeting and the return to this better ground will be a huge help for this double-figured price charge.
Vinnie Lewis (Harry Bannister) jumps the last fence and wins the Sussex National
Plumpton 7.1.18 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Although Age Of Wisdom is respected off top weight in the Plumpton 5.05, he is simply too short a price for our life-changing wager and following a wind op, Sixties Idol fits the bill.
Back down to his last winning rating of 90, he will bounce off the forecast good turf and anything around the 10/1 mark would be acceptable.
And to anchor the wager, how about adding Gang Warfare off top-weight in the two-mile Fibresand handicap at Southwell at 4.10.
The veteran shaped really well behind Mixboy over a quarter of a mile further here last time out and gets to race off a 1lb lower mark yet remains a double-digit price.
Giddyup with the PaddyPower.com’s racing odd