Jockey & trainer with 60% strike-rate at Stratford team up with 1 runner Thursday

If early season indications are anything to go by, jockey Paul O’Brien is worth following at Stratford. He has ridden three winners from five starts this season to date, producing a profit of £12.35 to £1 level stakes.

Trainer Charlie Longsdon is also in love with this track so far this season. He has sent out six winners from just ten runners at the course this season, yielding a profit of £22.85 to £1 level stakes.

Interestingly, the combination team up together with just one horse running at Stratford on Thursday. The horse is called LOUSE TALK and he runs in the 3.36pm.

This is a seven runner handicap chase but at first glance it looks fiercely competitive. Tim Vaughan’s Jean Genie is the market leader and he won the race last year with De Forgotten One.

Paul O’Brien is a very valuable three pound claimer and Louse Talk holds every chance here if he puts his best foot forward. Both of his wins have come on soft or heavy ground so conditions will be in his favour.

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This horse is certainly far from reliable and has proven to be a risky betting proposition. He has been pulled up four times, fell twice and unseated rider once from just fifteen starts.

Despite his rather poor form figures in recent times, he must be showing plenty at home. In his six starts since November 2019, he has been sent off at single figure prices despite finishing no better than third.

Last December at Chepstow, he was third off 114 so he could be potentially thrown in here from a rating of 105. Take off Paul’s three pound claim and that in essence makes him 12lb lighter here.

Paul O’Brien’s other rides

It is also worth pointing out that although this is Charlie’s only runner at the track, Paul has three other mounts. Given the fact he has a 60-per-cent strike-rate on the course this season, he might find the winners enclosure more than once.

In the 1.06pm he rides Black Kalanisi for trainer Joseph Tuite and he has an outside chance. He is a fair Flat performer who was successful over hurdles too but the ground might be too soft for him.

Moving on to the 2.06pm, he gets the leg up on Fanzio for trainer Richard Hobson. This gelding was terrific at Uttoxeter when making all last month but flopped next time. He is a course winner and will be dangerous if he is allowed a soft lead up front.

Last but not least, he rides rank outsider Elios D’Or for Robert Walford in the 2.36pm. This gelding won a bumper on his final start for Nicky Richards last January. However, he has been poor for new connections since. The first-time tongue strap needs to bring out a lot of improvement.