BETTING BOX |
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FIXED ODDS |
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 | 1pt win Grissom in 13.35 Chester at 12/1 (General). | Won't mind the ground and interesting stepped back up to seven. |
| 1pt win Pale Orchid in 15.05 Chester at 9/1 (General). | Reliable filly who ran better than this mark on her last start and shouldn't mind the ground. |
Tim Easterby has bounced right back to form this week with three winners from his last four runners including Confessional here at Chester and his GRISSOM is worth backing in the opener on Friday.
The ground has been desperate all week but it won't bother this son of Desert Prince who has won on soft-heavy and was third home of the far side group in the Ayr Silver Cup last September on testing ground.
He's been dropped a couple of pounds in the handicap since then and he's edging back towards his last winning mark of 88, achieved at Doncaster last August on his last run over seven furlongs.
It's a trip I think he needs these days and I wouldn't take too much notice of his seasonal reappearance at Pontefract as he always needs a run and was beaten by the draw in any case.
Providing they manage to wheel the stalls out he's drawn well here and I'd expect a big run from him at 12/1.
Later on I also think it's worth backing PALE ORCHID in the edwardshomes.co.uk E.B.F. Handicap.
She ran solid races on soft ground when trained in Ireland early in her career but she's a much improved filly these days and is interesting back in handicap company on such conditions.
Last time she ran a cracker in a listed race over six furlongs at Kempton where she was surrounded by 100-rated horses at the line despite weakening late on.
Off a mark of 91 she has to be of interest after that run and I like the fact she's proven over six furlongs dropped back to five on this ground.
The last time she ran in a handicap she won pretty cosily off a mark of 84, and, now 7lbs higher, I think she's over-priced at 9/1 to continue her progression.
