Alaskan Star ran an absolute stinker for us at Kempton last
night and I was worried as soon as I saw that Steve Drowne dismounted him at the start.
This horse must have issues mentally and Drowne gave him a very tender ride. He
never tried to get across to the inner and travelled widest of all throughout. When push came to shove as they turned for home Alaskan Star went out
like a light. I still believe this horse possesses enough ability to win a bad
handicap, but perhaps we won’t see the best of him until he matures.
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| Paul Townend has a good record when riding for David O'Brien. |
To be honest, I will be glad to see the back of the flat
season as finding big priced winners has been a struggle this term. I have
used the same methods to choose my selections that have stood me well in the past,
but for whatever reason the horses just haven’t played ball. Today I am going
to back one in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at Clonmel and I think Walkers Point
is an interesting contender for David O’Brien and Paul Townend.
This bumper winner has had plenty of chances over timber
without getting his head in front but he is still only a 6yo and he has time on
his side. The son of Golan beat a good horse of Tom Gibney’s when winning his
only race down in Cork and the fact that his trainer has campaigned him almost
exclusively in maiden hurdles (12 of 13 hurdle runs) suggests that he thinks
quite a bit of him. He has a nice pedigree, out of a sister to the very useful
Arteea.
His dam was a maiden point winner, his half brother won a
point to point and his grand dam was also related to a couple of 3 mile hurdle winners.
His pedigree suggests that the step up to 3 miles should suit and on the
evidence of his last visit to Clonmel (19.5f gd) I think it will suit him too.
He was out with the washing as they approached the second last under a very
tender ride from Sean Flanagan, but he stayed on eye-catchingly in the closing
stages to grab an unlikely looking 4th.
The way he finished his race off, even though he was 27L
behind the winner, suggested that a step up in trip would eke out a bit more
improvement and this will be his first crack at 3 miles. He was given a couple
of months off after that good effort and he has had a couple of sighters at 20f
and 21f to ready him for this crack at 24f. The first time cheekpieces applied
last time at Bellewstown are discarded and he runs with the tongue tie that that he
wore on his last visit to Clonmel.
In fact, the return to Clonmel for just his second handicap
start has to be viewed as a big plus as he has a 2nd and two 4ths from three
runs at the track, all over shorter. The booking of Paul Townend is another
positive as he has 2 wins and 10 top 4 finishes from just 25 rides for O’Brien, a
frame hitting strike rate of just under 50%. There has been a nibble early on
at Walkers Point with Paddy Power who have already cut him into 12/1, but he
can still be backed with a number of firms at 33s at the time of writing and at
those sort of odds he has to be worth a fiver each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION:
15.35 CLONMEL-WALKERS POINT E/W @ 33/1
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