The lightly-raced and unexposed Lecale Lad looks on a potentially handy mark in the 4.10 at Southwell today and at 11/2 rates the best bet on the card.
The gelding ran out the impressive wide margin winner of an Irish point at Loughanmore back in December 2012, after which he joined the Tim Vaughan yard.
He didn’t show much in his first three starts for his new handler, but then put in a promising effort when third of nine to No No Mac over course and distance.
After being held-up at the rear, Lecale Lad made good headway before two out to go third, but was then unable to find any extra in the testing conditions and could only keep on at the one pace to be beaten 24 lengths.
However he was not unduly knocked about once it was clear he would not be winning, and the form of the race has a solid look to it in the context of this contest.
The winner went on to score again and is now rated 127, the runner-up Ampleforth has also won since, and the fourth, fifth and sixth – The Clock Leary, Silent Knight and Cusheen Bridge – have also gone on to taste success.
That makes Lecale Lad’s mark of 94 look exploitable, especially on today’s better ground, and he was far from disgraced when last seen in action on handicap debut at Chepstow when seventh of 15 to On The Record.
The seven-year-old travelled better than most in the contest before clouting the fourth last and weakening between the final two flights, and was given a tender ride by his inexperienced 10lb claimer.
It was an effort which suggested he should be able to win a race of this nature, and with Michael Byrne now taking over in the saddle everything looks in place for a big run.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Lecale Lad (11/2 bet365 – BOG)
