21st-Sept-2019

I am backing old friend Caradoc here.

He didn’t have a lot of luck in-running when we had him on side in the good handicap at York that Tamreer won.  He was further back than ideal and he was wider than ideal, and he did well to get as close as he did, to finish third, beaten a total of a half a length.

He will race off a mark of 95 today, just 1lb higher than his York mark, and that is more than fair.  He has a really nice progressive profile.  His last four runs this season, his first season as a gelding, have all been steps forward.  Also, the drop back down to 10 furlongs is probably a positive, his run just appeared to be flattening out a little at York last time, on his first attempt at a mile and a half.  And Ryan Moore is obviously a big positive.

Forest Of Dean will be difficult to beat, he is progressive and he is 5lb well-in, even under his 5lb penalty, but he is short.  Rise Hall and Gibbs Hill and Exec Chef were also on my shortlist, but I am happy to give Caradoc another chance.

CARADOC WON (ADV 6/1, SP 5/1)