Tuck into Tecktal at 9/1
Tecktal makes plenty of each-way appeal at 9/1 off bottom weight in the 3.25 at Fontwell today.
Pat Phelan’s charge is yet to win over hurdles but is still lightly raced and has shown enough to suggest he is capable of scoring off his current rating of 72.
He rounded off last season with two solid thirds at this track, and really caught the eye on his final start over 2m 6f when third to Sovereign Spirit.
The gelding took a keen hold that day, but travelled really powerfully into the race two from home before weakening on the run-in and just losing out for second.
To me he shaped as if a drop back to today’s trip of 2m 4f would suit him ideally, and he looks handicapped to play a major role in this under ideal conditions.
He receives lumps of weight from all his rivals this afternoon, and connections have certainly found him a weak contest to hopefully shed his maiden tag.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Tecktal (9/1 generally available – BOG firms)
Manadam looks magic at 7/2
Manadam took advantage of a lenient handicap mark to score on his debut for Ian Williams and looks a solid bet at 7/2 to follow-up in the 4.30 Fontwell.
The eight-year-old was a fair hurdler in his day when trained by Lucinda Russell when he was rated as high as 112, and had little difficulty scoring for his new connections off a reduced mark of 78 when easily coming clear to beat Colditz by five lengths at Ffos Las 10 days ago.
The handicapper took a dim view of that performance and he is due to go up 11lb in the near future, so it’s not surprising that connections have decided to strike while the iron is hot and turn him out quickly.
The gelding is able to compete in this off just 1lb higher than when scoring at the Welsh track, so he is 10lb “well-in” and a handicap blot.
Providing this race doesn’t come too soon – and there are no reasons to believe it will – he will prove very hard to beat and cannot be opposed.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 4pts win Manadam (7/2 Stan James)