4th-Mar-2017

Thomas Crapper was always considered to be a good ground horse and, indeed, he does have very good form on good ground.  However, his last three runs have been on soft ground at Cheltenham, and it looked like it was the final hill on the ground that caught him out, not the ground on its own.

In all three races, he handled the ground well, he travelled on it, and he jumped out of it, but he just got tired from the second last fence.  I think that he is well worth chancing now back on a flat track, a track at which he is one for one, even on soft ground.

The handicapper has given him a really good chance now, dropping him down to a mark of 128.  That is 3lb lower than he was for his latest run, and it is 8lb lower than the mark off which he raced at Ascot in October.   He is not a 10/1 or an 11/1 shot in my book.

Oldgrangewood is a horse that I do like, he was impressive in winning at Wetherby last time and there is almost certainly more to come.  However, the handicapper raised him 9lb for that and, more importantly, he is short for this.  He is fashionable.  I am happy to allow him run at 7/2.

Vic De Touzaine and Vibrato Valtat are both dangers, but I am happy to rely on Thomas Crapper.

THOMAS CRAPPER WON (ADV 10/1, SP 8/1)