China Excels caught the eye in his last two starts and looks decent value at 9/1 to exploit a career-low mark ain the 2.20 at Southwell today now dropped in trip.
The gelding has just one success to his name, with that victory coming on the turf in a 5f contest at Beverley last June when trained by Sue Smith.
He made all and stayed on strongly to win easing down by 3 1/2 lengths off a mark off 55, and the handicapper showed no mercy by whacking him up 9lb to a mark of 64 for his next start.
His form then tailed off as a result, but he didn’t run too badly when fourth of 9 to Amenable in a 5f contest at Pontefract off 62 and now gets into this off just 50.
That gives him a big chane at the weights and he shaped as if still retaining enough ability to make an impact at this level when seventh of 11 to Interchoice Star over 5f at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start.
That was his first start for Many Rowland, and his first run for 142 days, and after half rearing at the start and getting outpaced he ran on well inside the final furlong to be beaten 3 3/4 lengths without being unduly knocked about.
The seven-year-old then showed bags of pace over 6f at this venue last time out where he pressed the leader until weakening a furlong from home to finish a 4 3/4 length fifth of 9 to Orwellian.
That run suggested that the drop back to 5f in this should be ideal, and with that run under his belt he should now be spot on to do himself justice.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way China Excels (9/1 BetVictor, Stan James – BOG)