The Grimscote Handicap Hurdle (4.25) at
Towcester on Thursday may not be as competitive as some of the
weekend handicaps that constitute the ‘bread and butter’ of this
column, but is nonetheless a lowly Class 5 affair, in which recent
winning form is in short supply. Furthermore, although 2 miles 3
furlongs and 34 yards is hardly a marathon distance, the race is due
to be run on a testing course on bottomless ground and could still
develop into a war of attrition, which few survive.
With this in mind, we’ve tried to
find one or two with stamina in abundance, who should be staying on
when the others have cried enough. Thatchers Gold, for
example, has troubled the judge just once in seven starts since
winning a better race on soft going at Uttoxeter over two years ago,
but at least we know he’s capable of winning a race and handling
testing conditions, which is not something we can say for many of his
rivals. His recent form is nothing special, but he drops into 0-100
company off a handicap mark 3lb lower than when last winning, so must
merit consideration.
Frankly, most of these are poor or
deteriorating, or both, but something has to win, so let’s row in
with the lightly-raced six-year-old Scartare, who’s been
well beaten at fancy prices on all six starts so far, but showed a
glimmer of ability on his last outing, over 1 mile 7½ furlongs on
this course seven weeks ago and may be capable of better on his
handicap debut. His stamina needs to be taken on trust, as does his
ability to handle heavy going, but a forward showing would hardly be
huge surprise in a race ripe for a turn-up.
Selections: Towcester 4.25
Thatchers Gold, Scartare
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