In-running 
/ Neil Munro / 27 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Neil was a keen observer at Lingfield (above) this week
"Cai Shen's premium conditions seem to be when the ground is good to firm, although he has won on good ground."
Neil Munro has a spring in his step as he considers some pointers for the upcoming Flat season as well as one that might return to big fences soon...
I love this time of year. We have just had the thrill of Cheltenham, we have the excitement of the Grand National Aintree meeting coming up, and the flat season is sneaking up on us. The first sign of that was the Winter Derby at Lingfield where we saw one of my in-running list horses for the flat season.
Cai Shen
Cai Shen made his All-Weather debut in the Winter Derby and, despite having a very wide draw, ran really well to go down a close second. Richard Hannon's four-year-old colt is tactically versatile but, with no obvious pace, I thought Jamie Spencer would try to get near the front and dictate from a prominent position. I should have known better as he settled Cai Shen on the outside near the back of the pack. But the colt travelled supremely well, as he always does, despite not taking the final bend very well, and traded at deep odds-on. Overall, he has traded at half his BSP in ten of his 12 races, with four victories. I don't have any issues with him and he will pick up a decent race or two this season. His premium conditions seem to be when the ground is good to firm, although he has won on good ground.
Advice: Back Cai Shen pre-race at BSP and then lay out your stake at half BSP in the run. Put up a further offer to lay at deep odds-on.
Noble Storm
This column studies all forms of racing but my heart will always be with sprinters. For me, nothing is more fulfilling than analysing a sprint handicap. So I was so looking forward to seeing Noble Storm run in the Listed sprint at Lingfield having been off the track for eight months. He loves to try and travel on the pace and Graham Gibbons managed to get him there, but after so long off, he never really settled and was never going to see out the race. He traded shorter but not to half his BSP. Overall, he's hit his mark 24 times in 28 runs so he will throughout the season.
Advice: With a 29% win ratio, I'm happy to back Noble Storm pre-race at BSP and then lay out my stake at half BSP in the run.
Petit Robin
Another to come back from a long lay-off, Petit Robin ran well enough in defeat over hurdles at his favourite track of Newbury. It will be interesting to see if connections head back over the bigger fences as he had quite a serious shoulder injury. But wherever connections go I would be using a back-to-lay strategy for this natural front-runner.
Advice: Back Petit Robin at BSP prior to the race and lay out your stake at half BSP in the run with an additional offer to lay our more at odds-on.
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