20/1 Ballista a bookie basher
Ballista was a real eye-catcher last time out and looks cracking each-way value at 20/1 in the 2.35 at Goodwood.
Tom Dascombe’s gelding was given what can only be described as a shocking and totally misjudged ride when finishing a never nearer 9th of 16 to Valery Borzov at Haydock.
He was held up travelling well off the pace, and his rider Andrew Elliott made no effort to obtain a run at a crucial stage when having tons of horse under him.
In the end he stayed behind a wall of horses for what seemed an eternity before finally making a move when it was all too late.
After being switched numerous times to obtain a run (losing many lengths in the process) the horse flew when getting a gap close home to be beaten just three lengths and finished full of running.
It was a miracle how Elliott managed to keep him out of the frame, and in my mind he should have won the race.
The good news is that Stephen Crane takes over in the saddle this afternoon, and the handicapper has left Ballista unchanged on a career low mark of 86.
That gives him a huge chance from a handicapping perspective, and although he only has one win to his name when scoring on his juvenile debut he shaped as if he retains more than enough ability to take advantage.
He rounded off his two-year-old career when a cracking third to Ladies Are Forever off a mark of 90 in the listed Two-year-old Trophy at Redcar, and showed back at Newmarket in June that he retains plenty of ability when a 3/4 length runner-up to Steps off 88.
The son of Majestic Missile had Coeus, who went on to land a valuable sprint handicap at Newmarket, a length behind him that day and the form looks solid in the context of today’s contest.
It was slightly disappointing the he failed to build on that effort in his next three starts, but he bounced back to form at Haydock two starts ago when finishing fifth to Zero Money and his latest effort suggests that he will be back in the winners’ enclosure sooner rather than later.
At 20/1 he is simply too big to ignore and has to be the each-way play.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Ballista (20/1 Ladbrokes – BOG, Stan James)
Rock Anthem can hit the high notes at 12/1
Rock Anthem shaped as if coming back to his best last time out and makes plenty of appeal at 12/1 in the 4.45 at Goodwood.
Mike Murhpy’s gelding stayed on well under tender handling to finish a never nearer fifth of 11 to Yensi at Leicester, suggesting that he was ready to take advantage of his lenient handicap mark.
He is now 1lb lower than his last success at Sandown last September where he showed a good turn of foot to come from off the pace and readily beat Beaumont’s Party by 3/4 of a length.
That form looks pretty strong in the context of this contest, and with Kieran O’Neill taking off another 3lb he must take all the beating in this if building on his latest effort.
Another plus is that he has winning form at the track, and under his ideal conditions he looks too big at the 12s on offer.
I had him priced up for this at no bigger than 8s, so at the double figure odds available he looks cracking each-way value.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Rock Anthem (12/1 Paddy power – BOG, Stan James)
9/2 Chapter And Verse can have final say
There is little doubt that Chapter And Verse has become very well treated and at 9/2 he holds outstanding claims of gaining an overdue success in the 5.15 at Goodwood.
The gelding has failed to get his head in front for a year, but has run with great credit on a number of occasions and shaped as if he retains plenty of ability.
Mike Murphy’s charge has mainly been campaigned on the all-weather in that time, and was far from disgraced two starts ago when fifth of 16 to Red Gulch at Kempton off a mark of 93.
However he has also ran two good races on the turf, when sixth of 19 to the classy Green Destiny at Newmarket and 9th of 28 to Julienas in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot off marks of 88 and 87 respectively, and put in a really solid run last time out when third to Boogie Shoes at Newmarket.
The handicapper has left him unchanged on a mark of 83 following that effort, and that gives him a huge chance from a handicapping perspective of belatedly getting back into the winners’ enclosure.
This is undoubtedly the easiest opportunity he has had on the turf for some time and it will be disappointing if he doesn’t not take advantage.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Chapter And Verse (9/2 Boylesports, Hills – BOG)