Raajih Can Rattle Home At Wincanton

A desperately close call for Here's Herbie at Cheltenham yesterday. He travelled well and Lucy Gardner looked to have timed her challenge perfectly as Herbie closed in on the leader after the final flight. He just couldn't get his head in front though, and claimed 3rd in an blanket finish, sent off at odds of just 15/2 (adv e/w 20/1). Hopefully the handicapper doesn't go too hard on him after such a good effort. It won't be long until he is back in the winner's enclosure and is one to watch out for later on in the season.

Today there is decent action at Aintree and Galway, and a good flat card at Leopardstown. However, the horse I like goes at Wincanton, and he looks sure to benefit from a return to 3m+. His last effort over this sort of trip came at Aintree back in April in the listed Betfred Handicap Chase, and he ran an absolute cracker in 4th, just 2L behind the winner. That effort came off a mark of 140, and he has been dropped to 137 after a couple of poor efforts over inadequate trips. 

That Aintree run came on similar ground to today, and Woollacott has booked a decent 7lb claimer to ease the burden of top weight. Matthew Hampton has ridden 7 winners before and is well worth his claim, so effectively Raajih runs off a mark of 130. His last chase win, at Perth for former trainer Gordon Elliott, came last September and he hacked up by 8L off a mark of 135. He is on a mark he should be well capable of exploiting, especially considering his effort off 140 at Cheltenham, and he is definitely worth an each way interest at 14/1 returned to his optimum trip.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.45 WINCANTON RAAJIH 14/1 E/W