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18:51 Newton Abbot
The best race on the card at Newton Abbot today sees a class 2 handicap chase race. Sebastopol comes into this race as favourite being in reasonably good form over the late spring / summer. Always likes the ground on the good side and you can see why he is the market favourite here. Tough ask though being top weight here.
Pisgah Pike is back from a 200 day plus break and near the top of the weights it seems a big ask. Mercian Prince is the oldest horse in the race and has done all its winning further so you question the suitability of this trip.
Leapaway was beaten by Sebastopol couple runs back but then won at Warwick is up 3 pounds since that victory so it's difficult to see how he turns that around against him. Across The Line has run in Hunter chases in recent times and the quality of them have to be questioned as he is up against better quality opposition today. Prince Escalus likes to lead but so do a couple of others in this race so they may burn each other out potentially in front if the pace is quick.
This points to a big run and a slight outsider of the race in Kauto The King. Kauto The King has won around here before as well which will help and all 6 of his career wins have been won on good ground. Which he will get today so the faster the ground the better for him. He won a class 2 handicap at a similar low bottom weight at Newton Abbot a couple years back. He is bottom weight today in this handicap race and with Joe Tizzard summer jumpers in reasonable form so far this season. This points to a big run in my opinion in such similar conditions. Priced around 9/1 worth an each way play even if the trip is on the slight short side.
KAUTO THE KING E/W
20:23 Aintree
Just the small 4 runner field in this class 3 handicap chase. Texard makes his UK debut today after running in France. He finished of his last race their 2nd and won a few times over there. Very difficult to gauge what he will be like based on his French form and how he takes to the new surroundings.
Fearless is winless in 12 and although is handicapped to go well it's hard to be positive about his chances today. Armattiekan I would say is the main threat to my selection has run with credit in most of his races over various course and distances and has 5 wins to his name. Will win again soon (Hopefully not today)
I really like the chances of Sir Tivo today ran well in a class 2 up Warwick last time out coming third. This on paper looks easier today than his last few races. All his 6 career wins have come from left-handed tracks which he races on today along with good ground which majority of his wins have come on. Although Sir Tivo is top weight in this race and unless Texard is something out the ordinary. I can see Sir Tivo getting back into the winner enclosure today.
SIR TIVO (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker