Roscommon & Newton Abbot – Monday 27th September

As we power towards the last week of the month, it has been at least somewhat of an upturn in the last week. A few nice priced winners have kept us in the hunt for the month and despite still being slightly down – it looks a lot more manageable than it did a few days ago. We’re only a winner or two away from being back to square one, and given the month that we have had – that would be a considerable result. 

The racing comes from Roscommon and Newton Abbot today. Starting off with Roscommon and the 1.55 race, which is a handicap hurdle over 2 miles. It’s an 80-102 event and these are typically hard to decipher and it remains to be seen whether favourite, Downthecellar, will be able to repeat his good recent chase form over the smaller obstacles. My impression is that he is not as effective and can be taken on. The horse to potentially take him on with is Tom McGreevy for Liz Doyle and James O’Sullivan. This horse has been steadily taking his racing in stride and posted a much improved effort last time out when second at Kilbeggan. He was able to run to his mark that day, which would be encouraging in this context – and could run a big race. Ladbrokes are offering 5 places for this race, and at a price of 7/1 with them – he is a good each way bet. 

In the 3.00, which is a 3m handicap hurdle, I will be going to the well with a horse I have backed before on this page, and she has run credible races at Bellewstown and Ballinrobe. The horse in question is Loudest Whisper, who has been unmoved from her mark from her last run. She should be well suited by this step back up to 3m, which was the distance of her win earlier in the summer and just found herself far too back to do any sort of justice at Ballinrobe last time out. She has had a busy enough summer and the one risk you take with a mare like this is that she may be over the top, but I’m willing to take those chances in this sort of race. At a price of 16/1 with SkyBet for 5 places, she is another each way bet. 

Over at Newton Abbot, it’s the 2.37 race which is of most interest for myself and this 2m5f handicap hurdle looks a good race for its type. A horse that I followed intently last year was Docpickedme – who brought some excellent PtP form from Ireland, which has been well backed up by the successes of Patroclus and Gaston Phebus last year. Docpickedme was more of a slow burner, and for a yard which were out of sorts last year, did well to get a maiden win on the board at Southwell over 2m4f. He looked like the type to keep improving and I am somewhat surprised that they are not going down the Chasing route yet. I firmly believe that this horse is better than a mark of 119, and while he might not show that today on his first effort of the season, he should give a very good account. At a best price of 11/4 with Paddy Power, I will be hoping he can get the job done.