In-running / Neil Munro / 23 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Neil Munro spoke recently about Mark Johnston horses being a good starting point for in-running players and he begins with one of his horses today.

"Corsica's an ideal candidate for a back to lay play, winning more on the field."

Corsica: At the time of the St Leger I thought that Corsica had put up a brave effort but, after subsequent viewings, I definitely want to be trading on Corsica for his next couple of runs. Earlier in the season he competed in handicaps off marks in the 70's so he has come a fair old way. He won in Group company in July and he certainly ran well with the 3lb penalty at Goodwood prior to going for the St Leger. He is a typical Johnston front runner who shows character and tenacity. He's an ideal candidate for a back to lay play, winning more on the field.

Destiny's Dream: Tracy Waggott seems to have a few of these consistent handicappers, Shadowtime, Nufoudh, Whispering Times and Destiny's Dream have all won three times this season, and this five-year-old mare is a particularly strong traveller. They tend to ride her in mid-division, but she catches the eyes of in-running backers, and thus trades low in the run. On her in-running CV she has had 11 trades at [3.10] or less, and included in that is five odds-on turnovers.

Despite winning six times, she doesn't always find as much as you would expect. She has gone up 18 pounds since the beginning of the season, but she proved last time out that she could cope with a mark of 86. She does have ideal conditions to look out for, one-mile-two-furlongs to one-mile-four-furlongs on good or faster ground, where she has won five times and been placed a further six times in 18 runs. One other thing to look out for is that she appears to enjoy Thirsk with three wins there. Under these conditions, I will be backing her pre-race and laying off the stake, and a tiny bit more, to create a green book.

Spa's Dancer: It wouldn't be In-running week without a prospective Crufts entrant - I guess you could call it Pest In Show! John Hills three-year-old colt finally broke his maiden tag at the 11th attempt, when winning a weak maiden at Kempton over seven furlongs on his All Weather debut. Before that he had run 10 times on turf, being placed six times, which gives an indication that he couldn't get his head in front. During those defeats he held his head strangely at times, as well as hanging to the left when under pressure. This would indicate that he is not completely happy with the game but off a mark of 79 in handicap company I would be looking to take him on in the run.

Simenon: This three-year-old gelding is a difficult puzzle to solve for Andrew Balding. Last season at two, he won over seven furlongs and a mile but on breeding would want further at three. He traded bigger in the run for both those wins, as he did his best late. Balding started him out this season over 10 furlongs at Sandown in Group company, where he finished second, seven lengths behind the winner Azmeel. He traded short as he travelled well but weakened in the finish. He's since repeated this travelling pattern over various trips, including last time out in the Cesarewitch Trial over two miles two furlongs. He travelled supremely well, having gone off a Betfair Starting Price of [18.40], and traded at [2.02] in the run, before again finding very little in a finish. I'll be looking to take him on in the run, both in the win and the place market.

Tags: horseracing betting, In-running week, Neil Munro