The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Straight Swap, (1500 Sandown), 1pt win, 10/1:
With the hurdles track soft and likely to get more so this is likely to be a gruelling affair. Some classy types in here could get anchored by big weights in the mud. We are very keen on a low weight and the in for. Yard of Chris Gordon sends the novice Straight Swap here off an attractive opening mark of just 116. That gives him no weight, and his style of running and breeding suggest this extra trip should be ideal. A much bigger chance than the odds suggest.
Funambule Sivola, (1350 Sandown), 5/2: a good handicap featuring god looking types Morning Vicar and Beyond Midnight, but for all they could progress they have e a huge job trying to contain last week’s Wetherby winner Funambule Sivola at these weights. Even with a penalty he is 6lbs well in for his sumptuous victory, and the Venetia Williams yard is hitting customary mid-winter overdrive.
Petite Power, (1515 Exeter), 6/1: this marathon around a testing track on soft ground may not suit many of these. Old Dawson City won’t mind if he fancies it, but we think this might rest on a recent Cheltenham race. The in form Bermeo was narrowly beaten trying to follow up a course win there and should go well up 4lbs. But we prefer Petite Power. He may have been beaten a further 20l behind Bermeo, but he gets a 10lb pull which helps. He also may have needs that to get race fit in his elder years. He was beaten a neck in this race last year off this same mark and he must go close again.
Emmpressive Lady, (1535 Sandown), 3/1: not sure how good the novice hurdle was that this mare won at Exeter last time, but there’s no doubting the style of her win. The handicapper has take. A sceptical view with an opening mark of 115. That leaves her on a relatively low weight – again ideal for a Sandown mud-slog – and she looks a worthy favourite to build on that Exeter success.
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