Ha'way! We're off to North East for today's selection which comes from the all-weather at Newcastle. ATHOLLBLAIR BOY is the my selection in this evening's Class 5 sprint over seven furlongs and I'm fancying him to bag the third win of his career in this thirteen runner handicap.
It was just five days ago that this son of Frozen Power was last seen on the track and that was at tonight's venue when contending a Class 4 handicap over six furlongs.
He travelled well into the race and challenged in the final furlong only to be headed on the line by the eventual winner Oriental Lilly. It appeared that he ran into one last week and that he will be much expected to go on and win this evening.
In fact, tonight's track has been a happy hunting ground for this five-year-old. He has arguably shown his best form at this venue, with his latest three runs coming here. Going back to last autumn he was a winner of a Class 5 over 6 furlongs before producing another placed effort three weeks later.
Apprentice Lewis Edmunds takes the ride this evening and his 3lb claim could prove telling. The drop in class should be even more of a positive for trainer Nigel Tinkler and even though this gelding is usually seen over 6 furlongs, he has ran over 7 before, with the latest of those being a placed effort at Doncaster back last August.
He's currently the favourite and has already been attracting some noise in the market this morning. I'd be pretty keen about taking the 2/1 that is currently on show as I feel he will be punted in and should go off around the 6/4 mark.
