Ice can Blast home at 14/1
Ice Blast has slid back down to a winning mark and is fancied to bounce back to form at a juicy 14/1 in the 3.50 Catterick.
Mick Easterby’s gelding should have won on his seasonal reapperance at Mussleburgh over today’s trip, but didn’t get the best of rifdes or runs during the race and failed by a short-head to catch ventura Sands.
He than made no mistakee next time out at Thirsk when dropped back to 6f, where despite rearing at the start he stayed on powerfully to pull three lengths clear of Jade off a mark of 72.
The handicapper whacked him up 8lb as a result, but he put in a fine effort of his revised rating when finishing a two length third to Common Touch from 3lb out of the handicap in race at York.
He was then well beaten behind St Leger favoruite Sea Moon in a handicap over 1m 2f at the Knavesmire, but that trip was way too far for him and can be forgotten..
It’s true that since then he has put in four below par efforts, but as a result he has now dropped back down to a mark of 74 and is just 2lb higher than when scoring so impressively at Thirsk.
That gives him a great chance of being really competitive in this, and with the trip and ground ideal he looks the type who could bounce back with a vengeance at a big price.
Recommended bet: 2pts win Ice Blast (14/1 Victor Chandler, Paddy Power – BOG)
11/2 Last Sovereign looks pure Gold
Last Sovereign bolted up last time out and looks a solid bet at 11/2 to follow-up under a penalty in the 4.20 at Catterick.
The gelding took andvantage of a slipping handicap mark to make all and score easing down by 2 1/4 lengths over 6f at Pontefract after being backed from 14/1 into 11s.
He has to shoudler a 6lb penalty for that success this afternoon, but that is unlikely to be enough to stop him as he still remains well treated on his old form.
Ollie Pears’ charge runs off a mark of 80 today, but that is only 1lb higher than when he scored at Chester last July, and with the useful Michael O’Connell taking of 3lb he is weighted to go in again.
He does have a wide draw in stall 9 to overcome, but I think that too much emphasis has been placed on this being a disadvantage.
Many of the recent winners at the track have come down the middle of the course, and Last Sovereign has the tactical speed to be able to get a good position.
On his past form he is well capable of beating this field with a bit to spare, and now that he has got his head back in front he looks the type to stick with until the handicapper can get to grips with him again.
Recommended bet: 3pts win Last Sovereign (9/2 bet365, Hills – BOG)
