BEST of the BETS

TIMES PAST (6/1) makes his handicap debut after a couple of placed efforts in novice races. Latest was 3/4 length 2nd behind 87-rated California Love at Chelmsford, he was getting 2 lbs from the winner which would put selection on a rating of 83, but assuming that th winner is overrated, let’s look at 4th horse Hawaayel (rated 69) who was getting 5 lbs from selection and finished under a length behind, which would put Times Past’s performance at about 76 which is still higher than his official mark of 75. Archie Watson has a 33% strike rate on nursery debuts (9 from 27, +14 LSP). Big question is how he will handle the surface, his sire Dandy Man’s record on it is only ok but he does he get winners on it. Having said all that, the favourite has a big advantage of already having won here, but at 6/1 in a 5 runner race I had to take a chance.

Good luck.