Money Trix

Bookmakers weren't too sure what to make of Money Trix's performance in winning the two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase at Kelso on Sunday. One firm (Paddy Power) extended his odds for the Lexus to 16/1 from 12/1 (which was quickly reduced back to 12/1), while the other two firms that were betting on the Lexus before Sunday (Ladbrokes and Stan James) cut his odds to 10/1. I'd say those firms are more correct. He is a big, strapping old-fashioned chasing type for whom two and three-quarter miles is probably not far enough. He made a bad mistake at the fifth last, just as he needed to be making his ground on the runaway leader Belon Gale steadily, and then, when he put in a big jump at the fourth last, Cloudy Lane jumped across him and forced Brian Harding to check him. Even at that, he was able to show enough pace to get up on the inside going around the top turn and take up the chasing position behind the leader. He travelled well around the home turn and then stayed on really well up the run-in to get the better of the leader, who may be a lot better than was thought before this race, to whom he was conceding 20lb, with the pair of them pulling 14 lengths clear of Cloudy Lane. The time of the race was really good, more than 10 seconds faster than the time that Knockara Beau clocked over the same course and distance in the novices' chase, albeit with a virtual solo, and 0.11secs/furlong faster than Racing Post par, the only time to dip below par on the day.

I wouldn't be losing faith in Money Trix for the Lexus Chase yet. The Lexus was always the plan before Sunday, and it doesn't look like Richards is deviating from it now. Three miles on soft ground around Leopardstown's galloping track with its uphill finish will be ideal for the son of Old Vic and, with doubts about the participation of a lot of those high in the Lexus betting, best odds of 14/1 about him at this stage looks decidedly generous.

6th December 2009

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