Plenty Could Pounce Late Off Strong Pace At Sandown

For the last two weeks I have been poring through the cards for Cheltenham trying to find value bets. Festival fever has taken hold big time and I almost forgot that Saturday is Imperial Cup day at Sandown. 17 horses have been declared, the ground is soft and I think Man Of Plenty looks overpriced for Sophie Leech and crack 5lb claimer Sean Houlihan.

 

Man Of Plenty needs a strong pace over 2 miles.

This admirably consistent 9yo son of Manduro has run some cracking races in defeat in big handicaps this season and I firmly believe he has the ability to pick a nice pot up if things fall right for him on the day. I am hoping that this race will be run to suit, and I think at 40/1 he could hit the frame.

Man Of Plenty is undeniably a difficult horse to win with, and his last victory came over much further in a Novice at Sedgefield all the way back in 2014 (21f gd). He was won over 2 miles on the level too, so evidently he has no shortage of stamina. However, he has gears too and some of his very best form has come in 2 mile handicaps.

He was 7th here in a 23.5f handicap last time out, 9L behind the winner Topofthegame off 123. He faded late in the day but it was still a good run, as was his penultimate start over 19f at Ascot (19.5f sft) when just over 6L behind Jenkins. However, the run that really piqued my interest in Man Of Plenty for today came at Haydock back in November.

As regular readers will know, I strongly fancy Limited Reserve for the Coral Cup (read here) and over 19f on heavy ground Man Of Plenty finished 2nd to him off 123 with Brian Hughes on board. He was running from 4lb out of the handicap (just like he is here) and he was 8L behind Limited Reserve who was running off 125 with James Bowen claiming 5lb.

That horse followed up off 8lb higher next time, and with Sean Houlihan claiming 5lb Man Of Plenty is effectively running off 6lb lower today. Leech also runs Birch Hill, but the fact that she has decided to claim off Man Of Plenty suggests that he is her main hope. Houlihan has won just 1 from 18 rides for Leech, but he has finished in the first four on 12 occasions, a frame hitting strike rate of 72%.

He ran a cracker on his last run over this course and distance, finishing 5th beaten 7L off 123 for Aidan Coleman. They just didn’t go fast enough early doors for him and though he stayed on well he just couldn’t reach the leaders. He looks guaranteed to get a strong pace to aim at here, and at odds of 40/1 I think Man Of Plenty could stay on late and challenge for a place, at the very least.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 2.25 SANDOWN-MAN OF PLENTY E/W 40/1 (5 PLACES)