Luca Cumani’s Aleksandar rates the standout bet at 6/1 on this evening’s card at Yarmouth in the finale at 8.05.
The Newmarket handler has has a 21% strike rate with his runners at the track in the past 12 months, and the selection has shown enough to suggest he is more than capable of taking this class 5 event off a mark of 66.
The gelding showed steady improvement in three starts as a juvenile, most notably when chasing home Moidore at Nottingham on the final one.
However he always looked the type who would do better a three once tackling handicaps, and after clearly needing the run on his reappearance at Wolverhampton he put in a an eye-catching effort when 6th of 12 to Rocktherunway in the Class 4 Tradesmans Derby Handicap at Musselburgh off a mark of 68.
Held-up that day he got carried left when making good headway two from home, and was eased down inside the last once it was clear he was not going to trouble the leaders.
In the end he was beaten just 4 lengths, and it was a highly promising effort which suggested he would have little problem winning races.
It was therefore slightly disappointing that he was well beaten on his next starts at Newmarket, but something was clearly amiss that day and he has since been given a break to freshen him up.
The handicapper has also dropped him 2lb to a mark of 66, and I will be surprised if he is not better than that.
He also now has the services of Kieren Fallon in the saddle, and I think this weak class 5 affair looks a golden opportunity for him to open his account.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Aleksander (6/1 bet365, Hills – BOG, Stan James, Coral)