Owen’s Outsiders! 28/1, 25/1 and 16/1 Selections (10th August)

We couldn’t have asked for a better day on Saturday, as Island Brave stormed down the outside at 33/1 to land massive profit! Hyanna almost made it a magical day, going down narrowly at 22/1. Ascot provided us with some fantastic returns and hopefully, Monday can give us the same.

There are meetings at Leicester, Southwell, Chester and Ballinrobe to get stuck into on Monday. I’ve gone hunting and hopefully, we can catch another whopper!

All prices are best-price of the major bookmakers and correct as of 5:30pm.

1.30 Leicester – Stigwood (16/1)

Not much more could have gone wrong for Stigwood on his racecourse introduction. He ducked left out of the stalls and was very keen in the early stages. When asked for an effort, he was very green and short of room on the inside. He was never able to get a gap and fell through the field as a result.

He’s sure to have learnt plenty from that rather messy debut and the yard has been in great form in recent weeks. A 42,000gns purchase, he’s bred to do far better and the booking Kieran Shoemark, who is riding out of his skin, is another big positive. An improved display can be expected from this son of Kodiac.

4.15 Southwell – Peddler (25/1)

This really isn’t the strongest of novice contests, with favourite Liffeydale Dreamer needing eleven attempts to get off the mark over hurdles. It’s a very open contest as a result and Peddler has very interesting claims for Nico De Boinville and Mark Bradstock. Well beaten on his hurdling debut in November 2018, he subsequently routed a field between the flags at Lockinge.

He’s been absent since May 2019, finishing safely held at Warwick, where he travelled well for a long way before weakening on the turn for home. A 29,000 euro three-year-old, he’s got a very useful staying pedigree and clearly better has been expected of him.

The absence has to be of a small concern, but he’s surely better than what he’s shown thus far and this isn’t a strong contest, as first mentioned.

7.30 Chester – Stringybark Creek (28/1)

Although most of his runs have come at around the mile, Stringybark Creek has been sporadically tried at the ten-furlong distance. Connections clearly feel as though this distance is within reach and looking at his breeding, it’s not hard to see why. Running better than the bare form figures in 2020, he’s fallen back onto his last winning rating.

A track like Chester should really play to his strengths and his tactical versatility is another positive. David Loughnane’s horses, for the most part, have been running well of late and there is plenty of hope for a big run from this six-year-old.