6.50pm Stratford Tips & Betting Preview 24/08/2016

Our race preview takes a look at a decent quality Handicap Chase at Stratford. See our betting tips below to uncover a good quality horse who can overcome his quirks to win today.

IN SUMMARY: Roman Flight was quite fortunate to win over fences here in July but is still lightly raced and can’t be discounted. Glenwood For Ever needs to be carefully watched in the market as he comes over from Ireland and has run respectably twice at the Galway Festival; thats also without mentioning Johnson is onboard. However PURPLE ‘N GOLD comes into the race with two good runs at Southwell and Uttoxeter, and although he is a bit of a character, he is taken to notch up another win for the familiar partnership of Tom Scu and David Pipe.

1 WITNESS IN COURT – Could easily be in the frame if running like he did when winning at Perth in April (20f, Good), however his form has regressed since then. Finished a poor last in the Perth Gold Cup when last seen in June (24f, Good to Firm) and its hard to fancy him in this vein of form.

2 PURPLE ‘N GOLD – Most certainly isn’t the most straightforward horse but ran well the last twice, latest when a creditable 4th, beaten by some smart horses at Southwell (20.5f, Good). Should have more to give and will give it a good go under Tom Scudamore, and also meets Roman Flight on much more favourable terms than when he was beaten by him at this track over an inadequate trip.

3 ROMAN FLIGHT – Won 3 starts ago at Stratford (17f, Good) when quite fortunate as the leader was 3 lengths out in the clear when blundering badly at the last where he couldn’t recover. Is still lightly raced and probably has more to give but is on much worse terms with Purple ‘n Gold today who he beat that day and that rival was probably racing at an inadequate trip. Considered all the same.

4 SURF AND TURF – Been completely out of sorts since returning from a break in March, runs for a new stable today (Richard Hobson) but cannot be recommended as you’ll have to look back as far as June last year for a solid run.

5 NO LIKEY – Won by a handy 14l here in May (19.5f, Good to Soft), but hasn’t ran well since and thats probably due to the huge hike in the weights he took for that win. Looks quite vulnerable and passed over for now.

6 GLENWOOD FOR EVER – Irish Raider who has won twice this season and has ran well twice at the Galway festival last month also. Could well be a very dangerous with Richard Johnson on board and needs to be monitored very closely for market support.

7 DEFINITE FUTURE – Finally came good when winning a low grade handicap at Worcester latest (20f, Good), but now is effectively 19lb higher in a better race and even with a claimer on board, he may well struggle at bottom weight. Needs a market check though and places aren’t out of the question.

2/1 Roman Flight, 7/2 Purple ‘N Gold, 5/1 Definite Future, 7/1 No Likey, 7/1 Glenwood For Ever, 15/2 Witness In Court, 14/1 Surf And Turf