BEST of the BETS

Favourite Dorking Cock has a few things in his favour, winning last two including here last time, and Tom Lacey does very well with this type. DC’s sister Hidden Dilemma won 2 from 2 at Carlisle (didn’t win anywhere else), so they seem to like this track, but odds of 4/7? Not for me, when you consider he has gone up 9 lbs since last win and this is actually a stronger race because this time he is taking on his fellow novices, all of whom have potential to improve just as he does. So I am taking a chance on ROMEO BROWN, who is making his handicap debut. He had some good bumper form, finishing 3rd on debut behind Acey Milan who went on to finish 4th in last year’s champion bumper, and finishing 2nd behind Southfield Stone who won the Dovecote (Grade 2) last month, so the form is there. Has been a little bit disappointing on two runs in novice hurdles since joining Phil Kirby, but was weak in betting last time and may do better now handicapping. Pedigree is also a positive, his dam Santia won up to Listed level over hurdles, and she also won on heavy. Kirby is 7 from 57 (+31 LSP) on first time in handicap over hurdles, which is much better than his record in novice hurdles. And Sean Quinlan is 6 from 23 (+61 LSP) in handicaps for Kirby. All these are positives, but one big negative his poor stable form, Kirby has had just 1 winner from his last 55 runners, but perhaps that’s not surprising as he had one of his spells with 30 winners from November through to January so was due a dry spell as a lot of his horses might be badly handicapped after winning, but I hope this one will prove an exception as he hasn’t won for him yet.

Small win bet on Romeo Brown @ 8/1

Good luck.