BANGOR 12.45
What’s The Scoop comes from a yard that hasn’t got going yet and it looks from the outside there may be a problem at the Sue Smith barn. It looked likely they would have had a winner at Carlisle on Monday but for a fall so they could be coming back to form. However, What’s The Scoop looks to have had physical problems as well as he has only been seen three times since leaving Nicky Henderson in the summer of 2017.
Truckers Highway is rated 121 and as he is 0-15 with one place off marks above 116, he is passed over.
Zolfo is yet to place in four races off marks above 104. However, he is 2-2 over this course and distance but he looks a summer horse as his record between September and December reads 0-6, never placed.
West Wizard has won on soft but he appears to find heavy ground too much, 0-5 with just the one place. He is well handicapped but is 1-18 going left handed
But more worrying is the fact he is better giving weight away to inferior horses in handicaps. His record when carrying 11-7 or less reads 0-13, never placed. In fact, both his wins were when he carried 11-11+.
Steel Wave is 2-2 over course and distance but he looks like he will need this as he is 0-8 when returning after a break of 60 days+ with just the one place and that was on his debut for Willie Mullins.
Mr Mcgo is 0-6 beyond 19.5f, no places, and hasn’t placed in four races when returning after a break of 60 days.
That leaves me with one horse and that is Arctic Gold who is thrown in off 115. His profile suggests he has everything in his favour today. His record on heavy ground in single figure fields reads 111U2222 and he hasn’t had those conditions for two years. The last time he had these conditions he was a 1.5ls second to Town Parks off 131.
In December 2017 Arctic Gold fell when leading in the Grand Sefton and that fall looks to have had an affect as Arctic Gold is still a novice over the larger obstacles, 0-12. He hasn’t run in a chase since December last year and has had three confidence building races over hurdles. He is 9lbs lower than he was in December. Now he has his ideal conditions, he should beat this lot.
Thoughts on the race welcome