Suffolk trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam has
only ever had four runners on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle, but
two of them have won, which makes the entry of Suzi’s
Connoisseur, who has just his start for the yard, in the Betway
Conditions Stakes (5.45) on Tuesday evening all the more interesting.
The eight-year-old hacked up in a 0-80 handicap, over 6 furlongs, at
Lingfield on his stable debut in December – earning himself a 10lb
rise in the weights – but, unsurprisingly, finished well beaten in
a similar conditions race to this one, again over 6 furlongs, on
Boxing Day; unsurprisingly because he met all five of his rivals that
day on at least 13lb worse terms than he would have done in a
handicap and, in the case of the easy winner, Kachy, 20lb worse.
The son of Art Connoisseur has
subsequently been dropped 1lb to a handicap mark of 86 and, once
again, meets all his rivals on disadvantageous terms, so the thinking
behind his entry is hard to fathom. Suzi’s Connoisseur hasn’t
raced over the minimum trip since his two-year-old days, so surely
Jane Chapple-Hyam doesn’t think he can beat five-furlong specialist
Encore D’Or – to name but one of the more likely winners – on
23lb disadvantageous terms? Or maybe she does?
Either way, aside from the possibility
of collecting fourth or fifth money, Suzi’s Connoisseur also runs
the risk of ruining his handicap mark forever, if he runs above
expectations. Unless connections know something we don’t and plan
an almighty gamble, Suzi’s Connoisseur seems certain to be sent off
at long odds – on the grounds that the handicapper doesn’t make
mistakes of the magnitude required for him to win – and looks worth
a small wager, if only to find out what on earth they’re playing
at.
Selection: Newcastle 5.45 Suzi’s
Connoisseur to win 25-1
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