22nd-Jul-2023

I am backing Strike Red in the Scurry Handicap.

This can turn into a bit of a cavalry charge, but Richard Fahey’s horse is proven in big-field handicaps.  He won the Coral Charge at York last year off a mark of 92, just 3lb lower than today’s mark, on easy ground, keeping on well after hitting the front almost a furlong out.

He has been beaten in all three runs this season, but he is progressing nicely as the season develops, as he did last year.  He did well to chase home Ripon specialist Justanotherbottle at Ripon last time, and he should come forward from that.

Richard Fahey’s horse goes well on soft ground, and, while he doesn’t have the most attractive head carriage, it doesn’t seem to stop him going forward.  He is well drawn too, on the near side and just one away from front-runner Verhoyen.  Six of the last eight winners of this were drawn 10 or higher, seven were drawn eight or higher, and the one who wasn’t was Romantic Proposal, a subsequent Group 1 winner.  And British raiders do well in the race, they have won three of the last seven renewals.

Laugh A Minute was on my shortlist, he will love the ground, but his low draw puts me off, and I am happy to rely on Strike Red.

STRIKE RED WON (ADV 8/1, SP 7/1)