Swing In Weights To Benefit Top Boy

A good run from Red All Star yesterday to finish runner up at Naas, and he ended up going off a well backed 6/1. It was a pity he got taken on for the lead by the English horse, and if he had been able to dictate at his own pace he may well have had enough left in the tank to repel the challenge of the eventual winner, who it must be said won emphatically in the end.
Today's fancy is a horse I have tipped up before, and I believe he is overpriced again at Newmarket in the 4.20. Top Boy  ran a sound race on easy ground on his last run on turf at Nottingham, and finished a good 2nd to today's favourite Double Up. He races off the same mark of 84 today after running another decent race at Chelmsford, where he raced up with the pace and pulled away his chance early on.
Double Up  on the other hand is eight pounds higher in the handicap, so Top Boy will be in receipt of a whopping twelve pounds from the favourite, as against four last time when only a length and a half separated them at the finish. The Varian horse is 6/4, whereas the Shaw inmate is available at 14/1. With Humidor and Noble Storm in the field a strong pace should ensue, and this should enable Top Boy to settle in his customary fashion at the rear of the field. Hopefully Paddy Mathers can get him covered up, and if he does he should show his smart turn of foot at the business end of the race and hit the frame. .
Some may point to the ground, and say he needs an ease to be seen at his best, but I would tend to disagree. Yes, his best runs at York last year came with slight cut, but he also has form on good/ good to firm ground, and I do not think rain is essential for this gelding to be seen at his best. He is bred to go on it, being a son of Exceed and Excel and out of a dam whose best efforts came on good to firm, and indeed he already has black type form himself on fast ground from his 2yo days, behind Sir Prancealot in a Listed event. I believe it has been circumstance rather than planning that has seen Top Boy encounter easy ground on turf in recent times, and hopefully off his mark of 84 he will prove it today.

Selection: Newmarket 4.20: Top Boy (each way)   14/1