Salpierre hasn’t been at his best this season, but he has tumbled down the weights as a result and looks worth chancing at 22/1 in the 1.20 at Taunton today.
Jonjo O’Neill’s charge was a highly progressive sort in 2010/11 when he won rattled-up a hat trick in handicaps.
His first success came off a mark of 90, and his last came off 113 when he easily landed a 2m 6f contest at Hereford.
The handicapper whacked him up another 12lb for that effort to 125, but he ran a blinder when trying to complete the four-time off it and finishing third of 13 to Mr Moonshine in a class 2 contest at Huntingdon.
He was then on the sidelines for 270 days, and after just one run at Aintree in October 2011 he was off the track for another 325 days.
The gelding then made his comeback at Uttoxter back in September off a mark of 125, and although eventually finishing a well-beaten 5th fo 11 to Red Not Blue he ran far better than his finishing position suggests.
He travelled supremely well for much of the 2m 5f journey, and made smooth headway to track the leaders until weakening badly three from home as lack of race fitness took it’s toll.
The gelding was allowed to come home in his own time and eased right down once it was clear he would not be winning.
The seven-year-old has failed to build on that effort and been well beaten in three subsequent starts, but the assessor has been quick to relent as a result and he now gets into this off a mark of just 110.
That means that he is now 3lb lower than his last win, and makes him look dangerously well-treated on his third at Huntingdon off 125 in this class 4 contest.
Backing him obviously comes with risks attached, but there is little doubted that he is weighted to go in again if bouncing back to anywhere near his best and with his stable now in good form it looks a risk worth taking at the odds on offer.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Salpierre (22/1 BetVictor – BOG)