Shabra Overpriced In Opener

With the ground now officially given as yielding after plenty of rain yesterday, and with more showers forecast before the start of racing today, it is important to know that the horse you are backing enjoys getting their toe in. Usually in these big field handicap hurdles I look for unexposed well bred types, who are racing on a different surface or over a new trip for the first time. However, after seeing Shamiran win in the handicap hurdle yesterday, I am taking a different approach today.
The characteristics I think that will be important today are toughness, experience in big fields and a liking for soft ground.One horse that ticks all those boxes for me, and is available at a big price, is Shabras Bertolini.
Trained by Anthony McCann, who has taken over from the late Oliver Brady, this horse looks well exposed at first glance, having already had 29 runs over hurdles. However, I believe there is cause for optimism that he can still improve. After all, he is still only a 6yo, and there have been signs that the penny has dropped this last year, as his four wins (the second was over course and distance) show. His last win in particular was very impressive, where he raced prominently and jumped well, before showing a good attitude in repelling the final challenger. Interestingly Walk To Freedom was 11 lengths behind him that day in fifth, and while he obviously didn't show his true colours on the day, it was still an authoritative performance by Shabras Bertolini.
His next run, in a higher class handicap at Leopardstown was admittedly poor, but I am willing to excuse him that run as a couple of poor jumps early on put paid to his chances. Subsequently, after a mini break, he ran a cracker in mid April, gaining the best RPR of his career, in finishing 2nd in a novice event, on ground that would have been plenty quick enough, to I Knew Well, owned by JP McManus and in the 'could be anything' bracket. He was given another outing nine days ago, stepped up in trip, but was always out the back and never figured. It looked to me like they wanted to mind his handicap mark for another day, as he was held up and also was racing over a trip that clearly doesn't suit.The jockey booking tempers my enthusiasm slightly, but he has ridden a couple of winners so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.  Hopefully he can run a big race today, and at the current odds of 40/1 Shabras Bertolini certainly looks worthy of a little each way support.

Selection: Shabras Bertolini 40/1(sporting bet) e/w