| # | Horse / Form | Age/Wgt | Jockey / Trainer | OR | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
9y 169 lbs |
Gavin Sheehan Jamie Snowden |
111 | – | |
| 2 |
5y 168 lbs |
Charlie Hammond Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole |
110 | – | |
| 3 |
6y 165 lbs |
Harry Skelton Dan Skelton |
107 | – | |
| 4 |
7y 164 lbs |
Paddy Hanlon(5) Paul Nicholls |
106 | – | |
| 5 |
8y 142 lbs |
Ben Godfrey Polly Gundry |
81 | – |
Quick Sharpener heads this small field of five at Newton Abbot on the strength of a rating narrowly ahead of Lady Kara, with the pair pulling clear of the remaining trio over an extended twenty-one furlongs on good ground, though the margin to Lady Kara is modest enough that a slipping of form on the day could see the advantage reversed. Lady Kara represents the principal threat, with Thickthorn Tom and It’s A Breeze capable of making life uncomfortable if either runs to a career-best. Confidence is limited given the proximity of the ratings, but on the balance of the evidence available, Quick Sharpener is selected.
THICKTHORN TOM gets the vote for Dan and Harry Skelton. He has already won at Newton Abbot, he was staying on at the finish last time and the yard is running at 27%. Only five runners again so it is not a massive betting race, but he looks the one with the fewest questions to answer.
VERDICT: THICKTHORN TOM 13/8