Sahara's Dry Spell Could End At Towcester

It was ultimately a disappointing effort from Rossmore's Lad on Tuesday, but he did travel well for a long way. He was as short as 6/1 in some places after the withdrawal of the favourite, but he drifted back out to a more realistic 14/1 before the off. He travelled well before tiring in the closing stages, and he was entitled to after over 2 years off. However, he should come on heaps for that run, and keep an eye out for him next time.

Paul Henderson has his string in fine form.

Tomorrow's fancy is another fairly speculative one, and once again stakes should be kept to a minimum. However, I think Sizing Sahara could be primed for a big run on his return to softer ground in the lucky last at Towcester at 16.25. The ground is currently described as heavy for this 19f class 5 handicap hurdle, and that will suit Sizing Sahara a lot better than the quick ground he has been racing on recently.

This very lightly raced 9yo son of Shirocco's recent form is more alphabetical than numerical, and he has been pulled up on 2 of his last 3 starts (unseating on the other one. His last half decent run came in a handicap chase at Market Rasen last January (21.5f hvy) and I don't think it was a coincidence that the ground was very testing that day. The trip looked like it stretched him, but he still ran alright to be 4th off 102, 20L behind the winner but just a length off 3rd.

That run came off a mark of 102, and his previous run on soft ground (all the way back in 2013) resulted in a 6L maiden hurdle win at Kilbeggan (16f soft). His two poor efforts this year have resulted in the handicapper taking drastic action, and he has been dropped to a career low mark of 88. Add in young Treacy's claim of 7lb and he is effectively 21lb lower than for that 4th over fences at Market Rasen.

Treacy has ridden two winners under rules, both for Henderson. He has had 9 rides for the yard this season, and he has placed on 4 of those. Henderson is hitting form too, and he has had two places and a winner from his last five runners. There are obviously risks involved with this one, so keep stakes low but, if the return to heavy ground has the desired effect, Sizing Sahara has to be worth a small each way bet at odds of 33/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 4.25 TOWCESTER-SIZING SAHARA E/W 33/1