Today's Selection

Today's cards are very poor and the weather is sure to play a major part in how things pan out. With that in mind I will only be having one bet today and it's on the advice of a primary info source.

5:10 Plumpton - Hannibal the Great (2/1) - 6pt Max Win - Prior to moving to the Longsdon yard this horse had been brought to my attention by a PTP expert in Ireland. This Milan gelding had run in a PTP race at Liscarroll back in March and dead heated for first place with a horse called Mcllhatton. Mcllhatton has subsequently moved to the Nicholls yard for £62,000 and ran well in a bumper at Chepstow earlier this month (finished 3rd at 9/2). The favourite in that PTP race back in March was a horse called First to Boogie who is thought to be a very exciting prospect and went off at the head of the market in a top bumper at Punchestown back in April after moving to the Mullin's yard (finished 6th). The general feeling among the PTP form experts is that the race won by Hannibal represents rock solid form and at the time the horse was highlighted as a potentially smart individual.  Following that win the horse went off the radar and it wasn't until a few months ago that his name popped up again when I was approached to buy a share in the horse as part of a syndicate scheme. I declined on that occasion but I was informed that the horse had been working extremely well at home and was showing a high degree of promise in comparison to some of the yards other bumper recruits. Obviously this led me to dive deeper into the horses background and analyse his pedigree and I have to say that I was very impressed with what I found.

Firstly, the horse is by Milan who is a Sire who over the years has proven to be a decent duel purpose creator. His progeny are usually versatile as far as ground is concerned and win over a variety of trips ranging from 2m - 3m 2f. To date he is yet to really excel at the highest level but season on season his stock seems to be improving and so far this year he has recorded 111 wins from 704 runs. The horse's Dam is Town Gossip who was an average duel performer out of Indian Ridge but she is related to some very nice NH horses including;  Montalicino (OR 143 - Grade 2 hurdle winners) and Meadow Vale (Smart duel bumper winner). To date Town Gossip has produced one foal (Mostly Bob) who holds a current OR of 130, is well above average and also won a bumper on debut for Willie Mullins at the start of his career. As far as I am concerned Hannibal has the profile of a smart Nation Hunt performer and he should also have the pace required to win a low grade bumper with minimal fuss. The fact that the horse has joined the Longsdon yard also adds confidence to my selection as the horse matches the profile of horse which the yard seem to be target and Charlie is definitely a trainer who is destined to go on to bigger and better things this season.  In light of the horse's pedigree, his PTP form and the positive reports received from the yard, I have taken the decision to Max Bet this horse and although the current form of the stable is a concern, I think the horse should have more than enough to win and the only real danger I can see is Mixologist. Side Bet = 0.50pt Reverse Forecast Hannibal and Mixologist (total 1pt stake). 


Result - Hannibal the Great - 1st (SP 7/2) 
              Mixotogist - 2nd (SP 2/1) 
              CSF - £11.57