Alan Dudman had a single winner yesterday with Sweet Will at 9/1 and his two selections for Saturday's multiple both run at Wolverhampton for a 17/1 double...
- Sweet Will won the first leg of Alan's double yesterday at 9/1
- Two well bred fillies on the radar for Saturday evening
- Al Dudman is backing a 17/1 Sportsbook double at Wolverhampton
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Another piece of headgear to get the best out of Sea Gifted
Back Sea Gifted @ 3.7511/4 in the 17:30 at Wolverhampton
Sweet Will stormed to a 3L success yesterday for an opening leg winner for the column at 9/1, but it was a real all or nothing day as Alto Alto never got involved at all at Cheltenham, and while the Cash Out facility with a decent priced first winner is always an intriguing option, it has been the second time this week that the first pick has gone in - only to be let down by the shorter price of the two.
We march on with Saturday and talking of let downs, Sea Gifted has been most disappointing despite her illustrious pedigree, and it's about time she won a race for her trainer William Haggas.
Haggas has tried everything bar the floral shirt with this filly with her two runs in October. He has reached for the hood and the tongue tie, and today he adds the cheekpieces. Although he clearly won't be reaching for the stars with her as she is only rated 73.
However, she does stay, although was no match at all for the impressive Courage Mon Ami last time at Newcastle, and that John Gosden colt looks well above average.
I am more interested in her effort at the start of October at Kempton. The drop to 1m3f looked against her as she isn't the quickest, and in the nicest possible terms, looks a bit of a boat. The winner of that was another Gosden 3yo who has since competed at Listed level, and Sea Gifted was taken off her feet and lost a position or two in the early stages. She had to come from a lot further back than the first two and clocked a decent 11.94 at furlong nine in the closing stages. I like stayers that can go sub 12 seconds over long distances, and while it's a worry Wolverhampton is a sharper track, she has a good draw to hopefully hold a prominent position.
The cheekpieces also make her interesting, as Haggas hits 20% win and 48% placed when using that particular headgear.
Earlier in the season she finished third at Hamilton over 1m4f, and the very fact she raced over that distance at a stiff track so early in her career is a guide to stamina, and she won't be lacking for that today. A steady pace at Hamilton went against her, and while the excuses are mounting up, I give her another chance as she is in receipt of a lot of weight.
Sunstone could be let in lightly from an opening mark of 74
Back Sunstone @ 3.7511/4 in the 18:00 at Wolverhampton
Another 1m4f race, another Newmarket trainer, and Sir Michael Stoute's 3yo filly Sunstone looks the best option for handicap debut.
She promises to get the trip judged on her latest run at Chelmsford over 1m2f where she was under heavy pressure going into the straight and was pushed and shoved to stay in contention. Credit to her, though, as down the straight she ran on well despite looking green still, and wasn't given a hard race at all behind Modaara - the beautifully bred daughter of Nahrain.
Sadly, no sectionals were available at Chelmsford yet again, a track with history of no data. But they looked to have gone slow early, and she'll improve for the step up to 1m4f and 74 looks a good mark.
Stoute trained the horse's mother Midsummer and will know the classy family well, as nine of her offspring have won races, and SMS has trained five of them. Although her best daughter by someway has been the great Midday.
I'll take half of Midday's ability for this on her handicap debut and the trainer has a near 24% strike-rate at Dunstall Park in the last five seasons.
October/November singles winners:
Sweet Will 9/1 Won and Placed
Vaynor 7/4 Won
Magical Vision 10/1 Won and Placed
De Legislator 9/10 Won
Captain Quint 2/1 Won
Fiston Du Mou 5/2 Won
Rickety Gate 5/2 Won
Warren Point 9/4 Won
Pennymoor 17/2 Won and Placed
Tarhib 5/1 Won
Hoganville 3/1 Won
Sole Pretender 9/1 Placed R4
Maximilian Evens Won
Another Odyssey 5/4 Won
Magnetic North 16/1 Placed
Mr Alan 4/1 Won
Bright Diamond 13/2 Placed
Hurtle 2/1 Won
Good Impression 3/1 Won
Soft Whisper 2/1 Won