Al Hamd and Havisham represent a solid ‘professional special each-way double today on another, obligatory, Wednesday-nighter’ which offers racegoers an eight-race programme.
Racegoers is somewhat of a misnomer, crowds have been thin since this Kew track was changed from turf to all-weather several years ago but, and this is most important, its polytrack surface is superb. Jockeys reckon it THE best.
Strangely I’ve never known flat-racing be popular there and yet jumping packs them in, like sardines for the Xmas King George meeting on Boxing Day.
In this day and age bettors don’t frequent racecourses in the anything like the same way, apart from periodical ‘Festival’ fixtures and Saturdays, preferring to stay at home and play betting exchanges, which offer terrific value for patient punters.
Ed Dunlop’s yard has been in form and we’re definitely intent on cashing in, Al Hamd comes back from a 194 day(s) absence for a ten-runner ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over a mile and it really should be just a question of this thrice-raced colt coping with AWR conditions. Why not?
Contrary to general opinion these primed surfaces are like carpets, no undulations and therefore no ‘minefields’ to dodge, significantly champion-elect Luke Morris has been booked for Al Hamd, clear ‘best-in’ and definitely strongly-fancied.
Six go to post for the following Maiden Stakes over twelve furlongs, don’t oppose Andrew Balding-trained Havisham, also absent for the 214 days.
Balding never sends one away from his fabulous Kingsclere base ‘needing a run’ and you can bet jockey David Probert will adopt a positive stance by sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
‘Probe’ is a particular favourite, his no nonsense all-the-way success on our nap, Shoofly, last week was typical, just what the doctor ordered. No stress whatsoever!
If only jockeys would attempt to make all the running on sufficiently-experienced maidens, and ‘dropped in’ for handicaps, punting would be like printing money. It has been, recently!
As singles bets Al Hamd and Havisham wont seem appealing, as an each-way double they are a ‘business’ proposition and this year will very much be focused on them.
Racing Special
Selections:
2.15 Al Hamd;
2.45 Havisham;
3.15 Wolf Of Windlesham.