14:20 Hexham - 1m7f Class 5 Handicap Chase - Sky Full Of Stars 7/2 - 0.5pt ew
After the welcome rise in temperatures across the British Isles this weekend comes the hope that we might actually make it through the week without any fixtures being abandoned. And there’s plenty to look forward to over the next seven days with the Punchestown Festival starting tomorrow over in Ireland whilst Saturday see’s the Jumps Season finale at Sandown with four graded races. Today however looks a cracking days racing with six meetings in total, on the flat at Pontefract, Windsor and Navan, whilst there’s National Hunt action from Hexham, Newton Abbot and north of the border from Sedgefield.
The horse who has caught my eye when going through the cards this morning is the James Ewart trained SKY FULL OF STARS (7/2) who lines up in the 14:20 1m7f Handicap Chase at Hexham this afternoon. This 8-year-old sired by Mahler was an unlucky loser just nine days ago when going down by under a length to the hard working Black Kettle in a Class 5 Chase over 2 miles at Newcastle. Jockey Steven Fox gave Sky Full Of Stars an excellent ride that day and looked the winner as they rose at the last with the leading pair being a huge 21 lengths of the third place finisher.
In his last three races over fences over today’s trip Sky Full Of Stars has 1 win and 2 places and with 5lb claimer Steven Fox in the saddle this afternoon I’m confident that he can go very close. Trainer James Ewart has enjoyed a good season with 20 winners from 123 runners yielding an incredible +59.80 profit to £1 level stakes. In fact over the last 14 days Ewart has had 8 runners with 3 of those winning and 3 finishing second, showing his horses are running extremely well at the moment. I do feel the price on Sky Full Of Stars has been compressed to slightly shorter than what his price should be and therefore I’m confident of a little drift and as a result I’m going to advise an each way bet on this gelding and hopefully get the week off to a flyer.
