Daily Placepots 
/ Adam Brookes / 24 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Chepstow provides the back-drop for today's Placepot.
"Thankfully, we look to have found our banker for the day in the shape of unexposed ex-French gelding Roudoudou Ville in the second handicap chase on the card."
A tricky decision as to which meeting to choose for today's Placepot as small fields abound, but eventually the brain suggests Chepstow, where we can take on a couple of vulnerable favourites and bank on an improving young horse.
14.10 The first of those shaky favourites is odds-on shot American Ladie in the first. Although her third behind Red Merlin looks all the better after his win at Hereford yesterday, she is becoming expensive to follow and though she should win here, there's the nagging feeling that she could let her supporters down once more. So, in hope of her defeat leaving a lot more in the pot for us, I'd take the relatively progressive Sara's Smile, who might be able to get her own way in front, and she's trainer Donald McCain's (three winners yesterday) only runner at the meeting.
14.40 A very poor handicap hurdle to overcome next, but the first name on the list here is Won More Night, who had excuses last time, and had beaten subsequent winner King Mak by three lengths on her penultimate start. Martin Keighley's mare makes much more appeal than the temperamental Lightening Fire, whilst his stablemate Form And Beauty (unconvincing jumper) also won a weak race last time and is another to be against. With Jessica looking very short on ability, we're left with the relatively unexposed Spinning Waters as back up.
15.15 An intriguing, seven-runner three mile handicap chase to navigate now and, with Charlie Longsdon's string in good form, Strongbows Legend makes plenty of appeal, especially as he was in front and going well when falling four out at Plumpton last time. Prior to that he had been placed twice in handicap chases and there's every likelihood that he still has more to offer. Silver Story hadn't ran for seven months before posting his best performance over fences last time and is entitled to come on for that, so he's included at the expense of veteran Victory Gunner, who is surely going to struggle over a shorter trip, and on firmer ground than he appreciates.
15.50 Thankfully, we look to have found our banker for the day in the shape of unexposed ex-French gelding Roudoudou Ville in the second handicap chase on the card. Impressing with both the way he travelled and jumped when winning last time at Wincanton, he certainly looked open to further progression and, against a field that seemed to have had all of their days in the sun (and shade) he should be difficult to beat.
16.25 Although he's in danger of becoming frsutrating, Prince of Denial can be given another chance in this weak handicap hurdle as the form of his recent third was franked when the second Laustra Bad won at Exeter on Thursday. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies had a ready winner yesterday in Mad Moose at Haydock and with possible improvement to come for the step up to three miles, Prince of Denial should give us every chance of progressing to the final leg. With Gilwen Glory and Lister having doubts about their temperament hanging over them, five-year-old Bishophill Jack is also included with the hope of getting two lines through.
16.55 - Before we can breathe that sigh of relief we find ourselves here once again with the 'Placepotters' nemesis that is the hunters' chase. Virtually every National Hunt meeting you attempt to conquer at this time of the year will try and catch you out with such a race in the sixth and final leg of a Placepot, and for those of you not fortunate enough to know who won the latest Gentlefellows Open at Brampton Bryan (that's a course, not a horse or even a rider, by the way), you might feel like dusting off your lucky pin or going for the jockey with the name you like the most. However, have no fear as we're here to tell you that Keith Goldsworthy's Oca de Thaix is solid in this type of race and can be expected to take this at the expense of Ultimate Limit, who is very capable on his day.
Selections:
14.10 - 5
14.40 - 1, 4
15.15 - 2, 5
15.50 - 1
16.25 - 1, 5
16.55 - 2, 3
16 lines
Following yesterday's placepot success on Kempton's National Hunt course, we can hopefully continue in the same vein back over on the all-weather track this evening......
The jumps card at Kempton is where we go for today's placepot attempt......
The transition between the jumps and Flat seasons may be underway with Cheltenham behind us, but continuity reigns at Kelso today, with plenty of familiar faces in attendance. That considered, let's visit the Borders for a crack at the Placepot....
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