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13:00 Stratford
Five runners go to post in this conditional jockeys’ handicap chase, Storm Dennis comes here on a hat-trick but it has been 219 days since he was last seen on track. The 6yo was progressing well and it will be interesting to see if he can continue that progress after the break, Espirt De Somoza has also been off the track for 187 days and his fitness will also have to be taken on trust.
Shetland Bus has no fitness concerns and has been consistent since moving to Dr Richard Newland without getting his head in front, but this 9yo knows how to win with 4 wins to his name. The last of those victories came last August off an 11lb higher mark, Luke Scott also takes off a very valuable 8lb so these factors make him well in. Also, his last run showed the win is not far away only being claimed late on by a next time out winner.
SHETLAND BUS (WIN)
19.30 Wolverhampton
A competitive 7F handicap with only 7lb between the whole field on official marks, the lowest rated of these being the 13-time winner Chookie Dunedin and is by no means discounted having recorded 7 of those 13 wins here. But perhaps he is slightly too high in the weights at the moment, another who deserves respect is Golden Mayflower who won on her debut then has been highly tried. Today represents a drop in class and the first time she has been in a class 4 handicap and this should she her competitive.
The lightly raced 5yo Secret Moment is the one for me, he won over C&D this time last year and is now 5lb higher than that success but Stefano Cherchi 3lb claim helps elevate the majority of that rise. Nicely drawn in stall 2 he should get a nice position early and should get a ground saving trip before hopefully picking them up in the straight.
SECRET MOMENT (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor