Our Island has some strong form to his name and makes plenty of each-way appeal at 12/1 in the West Wales National at Ffos Las today (2.40).
Tim Vaughan’s charge is an out and out stayer who revels in the mud and although he has won just once over fences he has run well in some competitive staying handicaps.
He chased home Cannington Brook at Haydock back in December 2011, where he stayed on strongly to be beaten just a length and now meets the winner on 16lb better terms.
The gelding went on to finish 6th of 20 to Le Beau Bai in the Welsh National and finish a fair 8th of 19 to Teaforthree in last year’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He then gained a deserved first success over the larger obstacles when readily beating Micro Mission by 3/4 of a length over 3 miles at Kelso in October off a mark of 28, before finishing a solid third to Arbor Supreme in the Devon Marathon at Exeter.
The eight-year-old was then far from disgraced on his latest start when fifth of 17b to Monbeg Dude in the Welsh National at Chepstow, and although he has to race from 7lb out of the weights in this he will relish the 3m 4f trip and testing conditions.
He certainly isn’t entitled to be more than double the odds of Cannington Brook judged on their run at Haydock, and the booking of Richie Killoran catches the eye as he has ridden him just once before and that was when he won at Kelso.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Our Island (12/1 BetVictor, Stan James – BOG)