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Dream Shadow to relish the going on Saturday
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Alan Dudman has two tips in his latest Saturday multiple that pays around 40/141.00
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I admit the Warwick card is far from a punting one with the small fields and short prices. But there's some quality and at least some depth with the nine declared for the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle at 15:00 and with the going like to be a slog, Dream Shadow for Fergal O'Brien might be worth chancing here.
There are some loftier reputations in the field, noticeably Kingston Queen, who looks a little short in the betting for me.
Dream Shadow was a smart sort in the Bumper sphere from her three runs and she's taken to hurdles very well with an easy win over CD in November and hosed up in a novice at Ayr last time in testing going under a penalty.
The form of her Warwick win earlier in the season was far from impressive in terms of the runners behind (with Timeform rating the going good to soft). I am taking the view she might have improved for the heavy going last time in Scotland as she scored going away.
Indeed, on the clock it was a sudden surge like a galleon in full sail as she chimed in at 20f with a furlong of 15.71 versus the runner-up's 16.96.
Going left-handed could well be her metier and as a Timeform Horse In Focus with a small 'p', she holds a Halifax figure 3lb superior here to the favourite, and with the ground likely to be a bog, her staying abilities judged on Ayr could be crucial.
Back Dream Shadow in the 15:00 at Warwick
Jane Williams' novice chasers are usually very sound jumpers and she's never afraid of taking on the fierce Newbury fences - although nowhere near as steep from the old days.
The trainer is 2-7 at the track this term at 29% and 5-33 in the last five seasons. It seems five seasons ago the "other Williams" Venetia had a winner.
Indeed, delving a bit deeper into the Jane rather than Venetia numbers, her chasers have performed better for the stable this season and is currently 7-31 at 23%, although heading into the weekend hasn't had a winner for 14 days.
Knight Of Allen scored over CD in November when beating Aviation - who has won since at Kempton. The victory on good to soft was perhaps a pointer as to why he disappointed at Cheltenham when last seen in a good novice race. The good ground looked against him and he didn't jump as fluently early, and seemed to resent hold up tactics in a small field.
Back into a handicap from 127 at a track with previous winning form, if he jumps out more positively, he is a better horse than he showed at Cheltenham.
Back Knight Of Allen in the 15:55 at Newbury
It is the third weekend of Betfair's terrific "Bet £10 Get £10 on racing multiples" promotion so it makes sense to have a double on my two Saturday selections.
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