Milton of Campsie has dropped back down to a winning mark and makes plenty of appeal at 8/1 in the 2.40 at Leicester.
The mare landed a hat-trick at in 5 and 6f contests two years ago when trained by John Balding, and although she has failed to score since her handicap mark has plummeted and she is now 5lb lower than her last win at Ayr.
Now in the care of Richard Guest, the six-year-old shaped far better than her finishing position suggest last time out at Hamilton when coming 7th of 10 to Tangalooma and could now be ready to score an overdue success.
She showed plenty of dash at the Scottish track before weakening and drifting badly a furlong from home in the soft ground and today’s quicker going will suit her far better.
The cheekpieces she wore that day are now replaced by eyeshields for the first time, and if they have the desired effect there is little doubt that she is capable of landing this contest.
Her handler has done well when inheriting similar types in the past and looks to have found a nice opening for her to potentially land a punt at a course where he has a 20% strike rate over the past 12 months (2 winners, three placed from 10 runners).
The stable also don’t often leave the cash behind when the money is down and it will certainly be significant if the money arrives for her this morning.
Everything looks in place for a huge run, and at the 8/1 currently on offer she looks solid each-way value.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Milton Of Campsie (8/1 Boylesports, Hills – BOG)
Belinksy is dangerously well treated at the moment and is of major interest at 10/1 in the 5.10 at Leicester.
The gelding has failed to score since May 2010 when trained by Nigel Tinkler, but that win came off a mark of 70 and her is now down to just 59.
That gives him a huge chance from a handicapping perspective, and he has shown enough sparkle in his six runs this season to suggest that he could be ready to go in again at a nice price.
The first of those runs came at York (off a mark of 63), where he raced prominently for much of the 6f journey before being unable to find any extra inside the last and weakened to finish 5th of 11 to Toby Tyler.
Although beaten just over 7 lengths he was not knocked about once his chance had gone and ran better than the result suggests.
The form of that race looks solid in the context of this contest as the winner has gone on to finish a solid fourth in a better race at Pontefract, the runner-up Hotham has subsequently won at Thirsk, and the fourth home Green Park has won since under a big weight at Musselburgh where he beat the bang in form Blown It.
Belinsky then again caught the eye when showing good early pace to finish sixth of 12 to Kings ‘N Dreams at Haydock on his latest start – once again being unable to find any extra close home to be beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
He then came a solid third to Mount Hollow and this track off today’s mark and a good fourth to Downhill Skier at Thirsk off a mark of 60 – staying on well to suggest that today’s 7f trip would suit.
The gelding’s last run was also not devoid of promise, when he stayed on well again to finish 7th of 15 to Song Of Parkes at Redcar.
Although today will be the first time that he has tackled 7f, the way he has been shaping suggests to me that it may be what he needs to get his head back in front where it matters.
If he does stay – and I think he will – then he looks sure to take all the beating.
Daily Sport recommended bet; 2pts each-way Belinsky (10/1 bet365, Boylesports – BOG)
Strike A Deal is potentially thrown-in if bouncing back to her best and in the 5.40 at Leicester and looks cracking each-way value at 13/2.
Chris Wall’s filly was rated 71 when winning a maiden at Redcar last summer, and went on to twice finish runner-up in handicaps off a mark of 64.
Although she has failed to trouble the judge in five starts this season, she really caught the eye when fifth of 15 to Ippi N Tombi at Yarmouth last time out.
She was produced to thrown down a challenge at the furlong marker that day before weakening and drifting right to be beaten 5 1/2 lengths in ground that was softer than ideal and today’s quicker surface will be much more up her street.
Her current mark of 59 means that she is 12lb lower than when winning her maiden, and I am convinced that she retains enough ability to take advantage in this weak looking contest.
With Danny Brock taking off another 5lb she is undoubtedly handicapped to score if back to anywhere near her best, and she showed enough to me last time to suggest that she is ready to do so.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Strike A Deal (13/2 hills – BOG)