A tough opening play for us punters on the final day of the festival, but the kind of big field handicap hurdle I love to play in. Western Comandor, top weight By Your Side (surely better than his disappointing last run suggests) and course and distance winner Teed Up are all respected in this 20-runner opener, but I feel that they could all get trumped by no less than a 13-race maiden runner here.
Jessie Harrington’s charge, MIGHTY MO MISSOURI, has always shown plenty of promise from his hurdles’ debut run behind Bloody Destiny at Cork to three seconds, all in fair maiden hurdles, the best of which was probably half a length second to Sinbad Le Marin at Gowran Park in February. The youngster comes here fit from the flat and off a lowly mark of 109 he could just surprise a fair few of these at a big price under the competent Conor Smithers.
For a nursery of this nature this doesn’t look like the strongest race of its ilk. Several of these have been running over distances well below their likely optimum and even this seven furlong in rain-softened ground may not be enough of a test.
I fancy Making Dreams (winner stepped up to this trip at Catterick last time out) to reverse recent form with Pretence. He ran through the line very strongly that day and although he needs a career best here, he looks sure to be involved. But I wonder if he can match the promise of the more lightly raced selection.
His dam’s sire tells you that Richard Hannon’s charge, COMMANDER CROUCH, is going to relish this trip after looking one paced in three outings between five and six furlongs. He was a real eye catcher last time out at Nottingham when running over the insufficient minimum trip and the booking of William Buick tells you plenty about his chance here on his nursery handicap debut
A couple of comeback wins after a fallow period off 77 and 78 from Copper Knight, one of them at his beloved York, showed that he is still a force at this level when he gets dig in the ground which he will certainly get here – and to a huge extent as well.
Only raised to 2lbs for that last success at Pontefract, the old boy is a huge player here. Manila Scouse twice hit the bar at York recently, the latter in a class two handicap and his front running antics should see him to good effect here. But I fear that setting off in front may well set it up for one or two others here, mainly my pick who has now dropped to a really attractive mark and I think cannot be overlooked from an each-way perspective.
A pound lower than for his last win at Southwell, his ability to act on soft ground and stay six furlongs are both massive points in his favour and I fancy TWILIGHT MADNESS to run down the early speedsters down the home stretch coming wide of his field on the likely better ground.
I am very wary of the mudlark veteran Safe Voyage after he showed that he retains a fair degree of ability following his fifth of 22 in the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May and then following a break, running better than his finishing position suggests when 18th of 25, on good ground, in the International Heritage Handicap back at the Berkshire track again.
There is persistent rain forecast to fall in the lead up to this meeting and, off 95, he could still be capable of winning a race of this nature. But the top weight, GREAT MAX, may just have his measure here. For me, seven furlongs has always been his trip and he confirmed that when 13th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap Stakes at Royal Ascot, 2nd of five in his group which obviously tells you he was at a disadvantage running that day on that side of the track.
Dropped a very fair 2lbs to a rating of just 95, a repeat of his fourth in the Newbury Spring Cup behind Jimi Hendrix earlier this season would be more than good enough to see him claim this prize of this mark.
I can’t work out if Nobody Told Me is a stayer or better off over a fast run mile and a quarter. One thing we do know is that he does act with plenty of give in the ground and it is still early days for the three-year-old.
Nathanael Green’s fast finishing fourth in the Northumberland Plate marks him down as the best horse in the race with the best form, but he obviously has a quirk or two after totally blowing out in the class two handicap won by Sweet William at Newbury. Still, that was a much better race than this one and the return to a much more testing surface will suit. And with me not being sure that Zimmerman wants this bottomless test of stamina I am happy to play against that trio with my upwardly mobile selection.
CINNODIN showed that stamina was his strong suit when landing a class five handicap at Sandown Park last time out. That was a first attempt over two miles and I simply loved the way that he stuck his neck out inside the final furlong and a half, showing both great determination and stamina. Of course this is a significant grade higher, but in receipt of 26lbs from the William Haggas trained top weight, which will count for plenty in this ground. He simply has to be the selection.
Horse Racing Tips: Paul Jacobs’ value plays at Galway, Chester & Haydock
Value's the name of the game when PJ's in town.
By Paul Jacobs / Horse Racing Tips / 2 months ago
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Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Value Plays:
13:50 Galway – Mighty Mo Missouri
14:30 Chester – Commander Crouch
15:45 Haydock – Twilight Madness (each-way)
16:08 Chester – Great Max
18:45 Haydock – Cinnodin
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:50 Galway – Mighty Mo Missouri
A tough opening play for us punters on the final day of the festival, but the kind of big field handicap hurdle I love to play in. Western Comandor, top weight By Your Side (surely better than his disappointing last run suggests) and course and distance winner Teed Up are all respected in this 20-runner opener, but I feel that they could all get trumped by no less than a 13-race maiden runner here.
Jessie Harrington’s charge, MIGHTY MO MISSOURI, has always shown plenty of promise from his hurdles’ debut run behind Bloody Destiny at Cork to three seconds, all in fair maiden hurdles, the best of which was probably half a length second to Sinbad Le Marin at Gowran Park in February. The youngster comes here fit from the flat and off a lowly mark of 109 he could just surprise a fair few of these at a big price under the competent Conor Smithers.
14:30 Chester – Commander Crouch
For a nursery of this nature this doesn’t look like the strongest race of its ilk. Several of these have been running over distances well below their likely optimum and even this seven furlong in rain-softened ground may not be enough of a test.
I fancy Making Dreams (winner stepped up to this trip at Catterick last time out) to reverse recent form with Pretence. He ran through the line very strongly that day and although he needs a career best here, he looks sure to be involved. But I wonder if he can match the promise of the more lightly raced selection.
His dam’s sire tells you that Richard Hannon’s charge, COMMANDER CROUCH, is going to relish this trip after looking one paced in three outings between five and six furlongs. He was a real eye catcher last time out at Nottingham when running over the insufficient minimum trip and the booking of William Buick tells you plenty about his chance here on his nursery handicap debut
15:45 Haydock – Twilight Madness (each-way)
A couple of comeback wins after a fallow period off 77 and 78 from Copper Knight, one of them at his beloved York, showed that he is still a force at this level when he gets dig in the ground which he will certainly get here – and to a huge extent as well.
Only raised to 2lbs for that last success at Pontefract, the old boy is a huge player here. Manila Scouse twice hit the bar at York recently, the latter in a class two handicap and his front running antics should see him to good effect here. But I fear that setting off in front may well set it up for one or two others here, mainly my pick who has now dropped to a really attractive mark and I think cannot be overlooked from an each-way perspective.
A pound lower than for his last win at Southwell, his ability to act on soft ground and stay six furlongs are both massive points in his favour and I fancy TWILIGHT MADNESS to run down the early speedsters down the home stretch coming wide of his field on the likely better ground.
16:08 Chester – Great Max
I am very wary of the mudlark veteran Safe Voyage after he showed that he retains a fair degree of ability following his fifth of 22 in the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May and then following a break, running better than his finishing position suggests when 18th of 25, on good ground, in the International Heritage Handicap back at the Berkshire track again.
There is persistent rain forecast to fall in the lead up to this meeting and, off 95, he could still be capable of winning a race of this nature. But the top weight, GREAT MAX, may just have his measure here. For me, seven furlongs has always been his trip and he confirmed that when 13th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap Stakes at Royal Ascot, 2nd of five in his group which obviously tells you he was at a disadvantage running that day on that side of the track.
Dropped a very fair 2lbs to a rating of just 95, a repeat of his fourth in the Newbury Spring Cup behind Jimi Hendrix earlier this season would be more than good enough to see him claim this prize of this mark.
18:45 Haydock – Cinnodin
I can’t work out if Nobody Told Me is a stayer or better off over a fast run mile and a quarter. One thing we do know is that he does act with plenty of give in the ground and it is still early days for the three-year-old.
Nathanael Green’s fast finishing fourth in the Northumberland Plate marks him down as the best horse in the race with the best form, but he obviously has a quirk or two after totally blowing out in the class two handicap won by Sweet William at Newbury. Still, that was a much better race than this one and the return to a much more testing surface will suit. And with me not being sure that Zimmerman wants this bottomless test of stamina I am happy to play against that trio with my upwardly mobile selection.
CINNODIN showed that stamina was his strong suit when landing a class five handicap at Sandown Park last time out. That was a first attempt over two miles and I simply loved the way that he stuck his neck out inside the final furlong and a half, showing both great determination and stamina. Of course this is a significant grade higher, but in receipt of 26lbs from the William Haggas trained top weight, which will count for plenty in this ground. He simply has to be the selection.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Value Plays:
13:50 Galway – Mighty Mo Missouri
14:30 Chester – Commander Crouch
15:45 Haydock – Twilight Madness (each-way)
16:08 Chester – Great Max
18:45 Haydock – Cinnodin
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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