Scottish Tartan Trophy Tips & Betting Preview

With Epsom clearly not suiting him, PADDY POWER still remains well treated on the best of his form and is too good to ignore in this field for Richard Fahey. The four year old son of Pivotal won off a mark of 85 in April 2016 for connections, with his mark sliding after many midfield efforts where he was running good races, but he was never quite able to get involved. Signalling he was back to the boil three starts ago when second at Newcastle, he duly obliged on his penultimate start when winning a Newmarket handicap in good style despite looking a far from easy ride. Raised six pounds, he is still four pounds below his highest winning mark and the undulations of Epsom clearly didn’t suit on his latest start, so he will appreciate this return to a flatter track. Sammy Jo Bell takes off a further three pounds and he looks very tough to beat with conditions to suit.

Running well on the all weather of late but boasting the course and distance form to match, another to consider is Fast Track for David Barron. His six year old has finished third on his previous four starts and although he’s becoming a frustrating horse to follow, a return to turf could help to exploit more off a potentially lenient mark based on his previous performances. He was far from disgraced when last seen at Chelsmford finishing third, beaten around a length and he remains on the same mark which is four pounds above his last winning one, though he’s placed off much higher in the past. Dougie Costello takes the ride and he looks set to go close if this switch to the grass helps to eek out more from him.

Right down towards the other end of the weights is Jim Goldie’s Tommy G, whose been in good form of late for Johnnie Delta Racing and he’s entitled to be involved, though there are doubts about the trip. Raced mainly over the six furlong trip, he won over seven at Ayr on his penultimate start and was raised three pounds as a result, last seen at the same venue when down to the five furlong trip. He was outpaced out the back until making headway towards the furlong pole, coming home strongly but never able to threaten with the line coming too soon. He will almost certainly need a strong pace if he’s to be threatening and that does look likely, though there still has to be a suspicion he’ll be coming home too late in the day. Phil Dennis takes off a useful five pounds and he’s an each way player at the very least.

A course and distance winner in the past, Showdaisy got back to somewhere near her best when last seen and perhaps that is a sign she’s coming back to the boil. Still four pounds above her last winning mark, she has struggled since winning that race at Southwell six starts ago until putting in a better effort when last seen over course and distance, finishing fifth which was a very good effort as she dwelt from the stalls and always had too much to do after finding trouble. Off a two pound lower mark she looks very dangerous with similar conditions, especially as the Keith Dalgleish yard have hit form of late. She looks certain to go close and has to be respected, though lots of near misses in her profile suggest she could meet trouble again as that risk comes with her style.

It was second time lucky in the race for Bryan Smart’s Meadway, who was beaten a head in this race back in 2015 but made amends to storm ahead and win it last season under an all the way ride from Connor Beasley. Now three pound below that mark, he remains well treated for a big run, with his penultimate fifth at Southwell in February proving he still has a race in him at this level. He wasn’t as good when last seen, but he saves his best for this venue and the handicapper has given him a chance by slipping him to this mark. Conditions are to suit and if breaking well and able to dictate from the front under Tom Eaves, he looks a big danger.

Hitting the post the last twice, Rasheeq looks an each way threat once again if in the same heart, though that is far from assured as he has been a quirky customer in the past. He finished second to Duke of Firenze at York on his penultimate start and at the same venue he chased home Copper Knight twenty-one days ago, with the handicapper raising him a further pound. He is more than capable off a mark such as this with Rachel Richardson taking off a useful three pounds, but as previously mentioned he has never been the easiest to judge and a blow out would be no surprise on the basis of his overall profile. He has to be considered an each way contender if at his best, but that is not assured and others make more appeal this time around.