Cassells Rock – 7.40 Limerick – 3 Mile Handicap Hurdle – 66/1 Boylesports – 5 places – 1.5 points each way.
The 11 year old Cassells Rock looks an intriguing runner in this 3 mile handicap hurdle.
He was a decent horse in his younger days finishing 2nd at Punchestown Festival over hurdles off a mark of 121 and postmarking a high of 136 over 2m 4F.
As he has aged Cassell’s Rock has needed further and been campaigned in point to points over 3 miles and even ran over 4 miles in that sphere.
Cassells Rock is on a definite recovery mission as he was off for 2 years after trailing down the field off 119 in a handicap hurdle. Getting a bad injury at 9 years old it must have been touch and go if connections would retire him, but they have persevered, and he returned to the track this year.
I really like how he has been campaigned this year. In May they ran him in a low grade point to point, where he blatantly needed the run. Then transferred him under rules and ran in a decent beginners chase over 2m 4F. Now this must have surprised connections as he ran a cracker at an unconsidered 150/1, finishing 8th of 10 and was only beaten 23 lengths by 130+ horses. He postmarked a very promising 105.
That really shows us his ability remains and fitness was clearly coming along nicely.
This is where it gets intriguing as connections, on his latest run, dropped him back to a head scratching 2 mile handicap hurdle, Unsurprisingly he was held up out the back and was only ‘nudged along’ to make minor headway and finish a never nearer 9th losing by 23 lengths. Cassell’s still showed ability over this totally inadequate trip postmarking 94.
Now that run to me was a lovely sharpener for the horse and has another valuable 3lb off his mark. That was his third run in 6 weeks and connections must have been thrilled how his fitness and wellbeing had progressed.
They have given him a month to recuperate and today he looks really interesting as connections have stepped him right up in trip to a perfect 3 mile handicap hurdle race off a lowly mark of 102.
Connections have jocked up Jack Foley who is a real rising star apprentice who gets the full 7lb claim. In his last 9 rides he has ridden 4 winners in handicaps! That means Cassell’s gets to run off just 95 and gives him a massive chance considering he ran to 94 last time out over an inadequate 2 miles and 105 the time before over 2m 4F.
When you also consider he has also run to 136 and just 2 hurdles races ago he was running off 119, you can see how well handicapped he is, even allowing for some age deterioration.
Cassels’s loves good fast ground, with all his wins coming in the summer months, so will relish the warm conditions at Limerick.
Now the exciting bit, we can back him at 66/1 with Boylesports and get 5 places plus best odds guaranteed!! That’s a huge price for his profile and so I’m recommending 1.5 points each way.
He is still value at 16/1.
Ironically with this type of horse, if the stable doesn’t gamble him, he could easily drift out to 100/1 + (that’s what I’m hoping!!). So make sure you back best odds guaranteed!
Agent Zig Zag – 2.55 Worcester – 2m Maiden Hurdle – 50/1 Bet365 – 1 Point Each Way.
The 7 year old Agent Zig Zag was a late starter on the flat only making his debut as a 4 year old. This was no surprise as he is a big unit and must have needed the time.
He soon developed into a fair performer winning over 1m2F and postmarking 85 for John Oxx.
He was sold onto jumping connections and he is now with the very good Paul Webber yard where he recently made his seasonal debut in his first hurdle outing. It was a fair display, he jumped well in the main and stayed wide throughout to get a sighter of his hurdles. The experience will have done him the world of good and his fitness should come on a bundle as he did seem to blow up in the home straight.
Today he runs back at Worcester which is a lovely flat track, and he will appreciate the fixed brush hurdles that take a little more jumping as he was quite big and high (will definitely be a chaser in time).
This hurdle race wont take a massive performance to win it, probably around the 100-110 mark, and based upon Agent Zig Zags flat rating he has the ability to surpass that mark readily.
At 50/1 with Bet365 he looks an excellent each way play and I recommend 1 point each way.
He still looks value at 20/1.
Winter Snowdrop – 3.45 Yarmouth – 1m 2F Handicap – 40/1 Skybet – 4 Places – 1 Point Each Way.
Julia Fielden loves having winners at Yarmouth, her local track. She has the favourite in this race, Fen Tiger. But under the same ownership she also runs Winter Snowdrop who is piloted by her son and has a good chance but sits at a massive 40/1.
Winter Snowdrop is a winner of two races, one of which was over today’s course and distance off a mark of 46 and was on the same fast summer ground that she will encounter today. She also finished second over track and trip, so clearly enjoys the conditions.
Winter Snowdrop also won over 1m 2F at Chelmsford off a mark of 50, so the fact she appears here off 49 gives her every chance, especially with Sam Fielden’s 7lb claim.
She does have to bounce back to form as her three runs this season haven’t been great, but she showed more last time out and with a return to her favourite track and ground, plus the additional of first time cheekpieces, this might spark a revival.
Julia Fielden would love to give her son his first victory and this is very much on the cards today.
At 40/1 with Skybet and 4 places being offered in this 12 runner race she does look great value.
He still looks value at 16/1.
