Paul Ferguson has two selections from Stratford for us on Sunday; Marley Roca (3:20) and That’ll Do (4:20). Compare odds
Off the mark over course-and-distance 44 days ago on his fifth start over fences Marley Roca (3:20) is fancied to follow up in the feature contest at Stratford this afternoon.
Up 10lbs for that easy success, Dominic Elsworth’s mount clearly has more on his plate here, but he won with a fair bit in hand last time and the assessor hasn’t been too harsh.
The race has a competitive feel to it but, in receipt of weight from his main market rivals, Paul Webber’s charge is taken to prevail. He is currently trading at 4/1 and proving easy to back, so could drift further.
In the very next race Haldibari has solid claims on a line through yesterday’s easy winner Fishoutofwater, but he’s only won once from 21 starts over hurdles, which is slightly off-putting.
The second bet on the card, therefore, comes in the penultimate 2m4f novices’ chase in which last weekend’s Haydock scorer Siberian Tiger is sure to be sent off odds on.
While he was the best of these over hurdles, he didn’t look a total natural on his chasing debut and took an age to reel in the smart Red Harbour after the last.
With the short run-in at Stratford I’m looking to take him on with Red Harbour’s stable-mate That’ll Do (4:20) who went off the boil last season.
The six-year-old won a Wincanton novice hurdle last October, before disappointing on his last two starts.
Being a point-to-point winner and carrying the Paul Barber silks, he is likely to come in to his own over fences and, if he gets into a rhythm out in front, the favourite may just struggle to peg him back, judged on last week’s race anyway.
Sunday’s selections:
3:20 Stratford: Marley Roca: (4/1)
4:20 Stratford: That’ll Do: (9/4)
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices.
