FLASH COLLONGES – 3.35pm AYR
0.5 POINTS EACH WAY ADVISED AT 10/1 WITH SKYBET PAYING 7 PLACES
MANOTHEPEOPLE – 3.35pm AYR
0.5 POINTS EACH WAY ADVISED AT 10/1 WITH SKYBET PAYING 7 PLACES
Hi guys, I spent about 3 hours on this race this morning studying the form of the horses in what looks a hugely competitive 23-runner renewal of the Coral Scottish Grand National, watching no end of replays, etc, before finally landing on a couple of horses who are proven on Good ground and who I think could have more to offer at their respective weights.
Flash Collonges (10/1) is an 8 year old Paul Nicholls trained gelding from the family of Aintree Grand National winner Neptune Collonges and he has yet to run beyond 3-miles but both his pedigree and the way he stayed on strongly through the line when winning over 2m7.5f at Newbury 7 weeks ago suggest he will stay the trip. He went up 4lb for that win but running off a mark of 134 he is still rated 11lb lower than his current hurdles mark so he could be well-handicapped. It is also possible the step up in trip will unlock further improvement and he has been reported by his trainer as wanting Good ground.
Manothepeople (10/1) is an 8 year old Fergal O’Brien trained gelding who won on Good ground over 3m2f at Chepstow last October shaping like he would stay further. He was beaten in to 2nd at Newbury last month but the race was run on unsuitably Soft ground, he was coming back from a 111-day break, and he was giving 6lb to the race-fit winner who is an unexposed sort that we don’t know how good he could be yet. Manothepeople will be fitter for last month’s pipe-opener and he too could improve for this first time try at a marathon 4-mile trip.
As unexposed 8 year olds I like the profiles of both these horses as the types who can win the race. In a very open looking contest they both look worth an each way interest with at least 11 firms offering 6 places on the race and Skybet paying the first 7 home.
Good luck if you decide to have a bet!
If you like my write-ups and they’ve helped you then please…
