Forecast Rain To Be Right Up Grissom's Street

After a short sabbatical I hope to return to action with a bang this week! Hopefully some of you managed to catch Master Carpenter, who I had tipped up when he was withdrawn from his previous intended run. He ran a stormer on Saturday at 20/1, just failing to reel in the winner, and there are more races to be won with this fella when the ground turns soft at the end of the season. 

The weather has began to turn slightly this week, after an extended period of glorious sunshine and sweltering heat, and one horse that will appreciate the rain forecast for this evening and before racing at Pontefract tomorrow is the Tim Easterby trained Grissom. 

This 9yo gelding has not won since July 2012, but he has shown that there is life in the old dog yet with a number of creditable recent runs. His last run, over 7F at Ayr on good ground was a shade disappointing admittedly, but he still managed to finish 4th beaten four lengths off 82. His previous two runs, at Haydock (6F Good) and Newcastle (7F Good to soft) were much more like it when he finished second and fourth, beaten less than two lengths for the win on both occasions. 

He races today off a mark of 81, and his last win came off a mark of 90, so he is well treated, but the handicapper hasn't exactly been overly generous seeing as he hasn't won in so long. It is not just the weather that has come in Grissom's favour either though, as the return to Pontefract is another big positive. His three runs at the track have yielded a 1st and 2nd (the other occasion was a seasonal return which can be excused) and his trainer has spoken in the past about the gelding's liking for a stiff track. 

With juice in the ground likely, and a return to Pontefract sure to suit, Grissom looks well worthy of each way support at his current odds of 8/1. 

Selection: 3.40 Pontefract Grissom (8/1) each way