Alan Dudman is backing two horses on Tuesday who should appreciate the testing conditions at Roscommon in a decent priced each-way multiple...
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Roscommon heavy ground could suit both
Thanks to Mark Milligan for covering the multiple column over the last eight days, and back in the UK for me, not a lot has changed in terms of the weather and indeed small fields, so we head to Roscommon this evening in search of unlocking a winning multiple.
Charles Byrnes and son (think Cat Stevens' Matthew and Son) have Secret Artist in the 18:30, and a big step up in trip to near enough 3m could benefit the opening pick on Tuesday evening.
Secret Artist has been poor in his last four runs and starts, but there was a little more gleaned from his final run of last term at Christmas time, with his handicap debut - admittedly well beaten.
Having raced almost exclusively over 2m, there's a bit of stamina in his pedigree which makes him interesting over the longer distance this evening.
I'm pinning my hopes on a bumper run early in his career with a second to Willie Mullins' James's Gate in 2022. That came on heavy ground and the winner subsequently finished third at Cheltenham behind Facile Vega - which seems a long time ago now.
He did act in the heavy conditions that day and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the market. He was 8/19.00 this morning, and could either go favourite or out to 16s and double in price.
With heavy conditions at Roscommon this evening, it will sort a few out in terms of staying in the taxing ground, and in a wide open 20:00 race, Tech Talk looks overpriced in a fairly open and moderate event.
Tech Talk is a relative spring chicken in this race, with veterans littered everywhere on the card - including a couple of 12yos and a 14yo.
The selection has had only five races over fences under rules, but unlocking some improvement stepping up in trip should help today, as he raced over 2m4f last time and did best of the horses to come from off the pace with a 14L fourth.
Tripwise, that race appeared too sharp for him, especially on quicker ground on that occasion, and being by Doyen, he should be fine in heavy ground as he tackles 3m1f today.
He finished third in last spring's Ladies' Perpetual Cup at Punchestown on the Banks Course, and off a low mark in a poor race should improve on his Limerick run.
Click here to read Tony Calvin's latest ante-post betting preview.