16:15 Hereford - 3m1f Handicap Hurdle Class 4 - Act Now 5/1 - 0.5pt ew
Yesterday's selection, Colin Tizzard's Lillington, produced a valiant effort to finish second at Taunton. He did not travel at all into the race but kept on well to pick up a place as my each-way selection. There are three meetings in total today, jumps action from Hereford where the going currently is Soft, and flat fixtures from Southwell on the Fibresand and Newcastle this evening on the Tapeta.
My selection today comes from Hereford in the 16:15 3m1f handicap where I'm fancying Anthony Honeyball's ACT NOW 11/2 to win this race for the second year running. Now a 9-year-old Act Now has won two hurdle races and a NH Flat race in her career but has been chasing this season and has yet to find that first win over the bigger obstacles.
She was pulled up on her latest outing at Exeter just over a month ago when competing in a Class 3 Chase over a lengthy 3m6f. She was pulled up that day and as a result she has been dropped down in trip and class for today's race has also been fitted with blinkers for the first time.
Her only race here at Hereford was 12 months ago in this event when she beat Wishicould by just over 3 lengths off a mark of 105. It's also worth noting that before that race she had not been running well at all and I feel today could be a similar set of circumstances. Despite now being 8lb higher in the ratings I feel this daughter of Act One is a much stronger mare now and can really put it to her rivals this afternoon.
The soft ground should not be a worry today as she has already won on Soft and produced four placed efforts. Trainer Anthony Honeyball was quoted saying: "The more rain we get the better. Noel Fehily's booked and she's never run badly for him. If she runs her race, all she does is gallop and stay and in a high gear. She'll keep going, so would have a squeak".
There has been some light drizzle overnight and there could well be more on the way this afternoon. It's worth noting that several bookmakers are paying four places on this race with just nine runners lining up! That considered I'm going to take advantage of the offers and have an each-way bet at around the 5/1 mark.
