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Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog |
| Wednesday 11th January 2017 | |
Something For The Weekend: Boy can come of age at 25-1
Having been strongly on the side of Thistlecrack in the King George and then last week bagging a nice profit by suggesting a lay of Capitaine in the Tolworth we are on a hat-trick so to speak, but I am not planning on playing it safe. In fact it's now time to swing for the fences.
The 32Red Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday is a tricky puzzle for punters and accordingly I think we should be playing each-way at a big price. My suggestion is Little Boy Boru, who is available at a general 25-1. Here is my reasoning.
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1. In 2015 Little Boy Boru finished second in this race to Tea for Three. He did so off a mark of 129 and this time he will get to race off a mark of 121 provided Old Guard misses the race. He also ran in this contest last year, when he finished fifth off a mark of 127. That race was, however, not the truly run affair he requires. He looks well treated off his current mark at a track he goes well at.
2. Little Boy Boru comes here in good form. After a layoff he made his seasonal reappearance at Haydock. In a fiercely competitive handicap he was a good second to Splash Of Ginge. He has since had 27 days to get over that big effort, so he should not bounce and if he is in anything like the same form he should go very close.
3. He is best in strongly run races and this contest is usually run at a good gallop. Last year’s renewal with just eight runners was something of an exception. A strong pace suits his hold-up style and if they do go fast he will finish his race stronger than most. In fact, if they do go quickly the place part of our bet is really alive and he can win.
4. At 25-1, I think he is over priced. I’m sure his trainer, Suzy Smith, will be keen to run him given his track record and with a few certain not to stand their ground he is looking like decent each-way value. He might well go off at a much shorter price.
Angus McNae’s Something for the Weekend
Back Little Boy Boru each-way at 25-1 in the 32Red Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.
