A field of seven go to post for the second race of the day at Wincanton on Sunday, see our betting tips and full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: Captain Buck’s flopped on his latest start here over shorter and has something to prove at present and LETS GO DUTCHESS can take another victory in what is becoming a brilliant season for the mare. With form figures of 22121 since October, she won easily on her latest start at Newton Abbot in April and despite an 11lb rise for that victory, she has conditions to suit and still has progress left in her at the age of seven. It would be foolish to dismiss San Satiro after an impressive win on his second start as he’s very much unexposed.
1 SAN SATIRO – Weakened very quickly on debut at Fontwell on debut for Paul Nicholls but atoned for that massively with a comfortable victory over C&D on his penultimate start, running on strongly despite some mistakes. On handicap debut he walked over at Exeter so that is best ignored as he makes his actual handicap debut in this off a mark of 118. This is tougher than his C&D victory but he remains unexposed for a top yard and should go close if improving again, though he is definitely stable second string with Twiston-Davies siding with Captain Buck’s.
2 CAPTAIN BUCK’S – Useful in bumpers and showed heaps of promise on hurdling debut when second at Taunton to Bags Groove back in January, keeping on strongly. He backed up that effort with a good win at Kempton back in February in a novices event, winning with seemingly a bit in hand for today’s rider Sam Twiston-Davies. On handicap debut here over shorter though he was well beaten when weakening tamely after two out, a very poor effort which leaves him with question marks to answer this time around. Conditions are to suit and going back up in trip is also favourable, but he certainly isn’t bullet proof and can be taken on today off the same mark.
3 THE CALLER – Very useful in bumpers and although he made a good start over hurdles when third at Huntingdon back in November, he flopped on two subsequent runs after some very questionable jumps. He won on his penultimate start at Plumpton in his final maiden hurdle and wasn’t necessarily disgraced on handicap debut at Chepstow last month, though his tendency to make mistakes reared its ugly head again. He’s interesting up in trip and better ground could eek out more if his bumper runs are taken into account, but he’s risky and there is no guarantee he will jump well.
4 MIGHTY LEADER – Looks exposed compared to most of his rivals in this and although he’s a three time winner over hurdles, the latest of those three starts ago at Exeter, he fell at the first on chasing debut at the same venue and was comprehensively beaten at Newbury thirty days ago. Only been dropped a pound and he likely needs more if he’s to be threatening some horses who have much more room for improvement. The yard is in form though and Paddy Brennan takes the ride so with conditions to suit, he could have place claims if the principles falter.
5 WHILE YOU WAIT – Eight year old who returned from a long absence when forth at Exeter five weeks ago in an easier race than this, following on from his two poor efforts he finishing last season on. He now has lots to prove and although he could improve for that run, he hasn’t won since May 2014 and others are easily preferred on this occasion despite Lucy Gardner taking off a useful 3lb.
6 BREAKING BITS – Last win came back in August 2013 and he’s not exactly gone close on any of his runs since September, well beaten at Ludlow when last seen earlier this month. He looks completed exposed at the age of ten and will be facing some up and coming rivals who are potential improvers, so this looks an almost impossible task. Saying that, the yard are in brilliant form at present with five winners from their last sixteen but that still isn’t enough to persuade us onto him.
7 LETS GO DUTCHESS – Progressive mare who has form figures of 22121 since September, running well at this venue over shorter on her penultimate start before a comfortable success at Newton Abbot eight days ago. She has been raised 11lb as a result but she’s clearly an improving force and she still has potential at this sort of trip, so should be more than capable of brushing off the rise with conditions to suit.