Rockiteer comes close

In today’s blog:-
Yesterday’s horseracing
Review of today’s horseracing

Yesterday’s horseracing
Just the one race was looked at yesterday and we very nearly had a tremendous winner in ROCKITEER that was put up as a worthy eachway wager at the odds of 11/1. He jumped the last fence in front, having been travelling very well thru’out the race, but was caught on the run-in by the strong finish of Emma Lavelle’s Qianshan Leader. In my opinion, all the 1st-3 home in this race can go on from this as the race looked a fair one for the grade.

Review of today’s horseracing
There is a good jump meeting at Haydock, and another decent jump meeting at Punchestown in Ireland. In the 20f chase at 2:50, the form of MASTER SOMERVILLE when 2nd to Edgbriar is now looking very good as that horse has been re-rated to OR145 following his win at Cheltenham the other day. That suggests that MASTER SOMERVILLE could be a good deal better than OR115 and he also goes best when fresh. There are heavy showers forecast for today and any softening of the ground will benefit him. He will likely be up with the pace thru’out. He’s now 8/1 (PaddyPower & Stan James) and that is the value.
The class 3 hurdle at 3:25 looks a competitive race for the money. The 7yo, SOFTSPOKENGUY has run well in 2 races at Haydock, despite being hampered both times. He’ll get the trip, runs prominent so won’t be far away from the leaders, and comes here race-fit. Those ahead of him in the betting; that is Mostly Bob, Barwell Bridge and Pipe Banner; all look like having questions to ask or improvement to find. So, at odds of 9/1 (Ladbrokes) he looks eachway value.
The class 3 chase at 4:00 is similarly filled with horses looking to have something to prove. I am drawn to GARLETON (who, like SOFTSPOKENGUY, is trained by M A Barnes). He has dropped from OR114 to his last winning mark of OR106, and he won his opening 2 races last season. He returned with a decent effort 19-days ago, so will be fit for that. The problem is his jockey, who is a 7lb claimer with only 3 chase wins. As such, for me current odds of 8/1 do not look value, and so this is a no bet race.

At Punchestown, in the 3:20 novice chase NOBLE PRINCE makes his chase debut. I was on the brink of including this horse in my Chasers & Hurdlers alert list, as he is such a consistently game performer. He could be the sort that leaves his hurdle form way behind when going chasing, and if he does he will go right to the top! Today’s odds leave no room for error tho’, so this is a race to watch and learn from.

Selections:
Haydock 2:50 MASTER SOMERVILLE, 1pt eachway @ 8/1
(best odds guaranteed with Stan James)
Haydock 2:50 MASTER SOMERVILLE @ 8/1 and
Haydock3:25 SOFTSPOKENGUY @ 9/1 (Ladbrokes, best odds guaranteed),
½pt eachway double

Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad