A Friday Fancy From The Punter's Graveyard

Last weekends selections ran well, with both Saffron Wells and Mydor staying on well late to take 4th and 3rd respectively. Mydor was given a terrible ride in my opinion, and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him popping up at Punchestown or Galway in one of the big festival handicaps stepped back up to three miles and on decent ground. Not for the first time Mr Martin has a well handicapped animal on his hands.

Tonight's fancy is a rare selection from the punter's graveyard Dundalk. Excelli goes in the 8.35, and gets in as second reserve. This horse has had three runs for rookie Ballysax trainer Maria Richert and has run well in all of them. He went close on his second run under this evening's pilot Damien Melia, beaten just half a length off a mark of 47. Raised 2lb for that run to 49,  he followed it up with an arguably even better effort when he was 4th, beaten 2.5l by Cristys Call(2nd) who has gone on to win his next two starts. Cristys Call ran off a mark of 55 that day. Today he runs off 68 whereas Excelli stays off 49, with Melia's claim meaning he is effectively off 42. Simply put, Excelli was getting 6lb from Cristys Call when they last met, today he is getting 26lb. I would be amazed if a 20lb swing is not enough for Excelli to turn the tables tonight. 

I will post a selection or two for the weekend later on. Watch this space. 

Pick: Excelli (7/1) e/w (just in case!)