18th-Aug-2018

I am backing Squats in this seven-furlong handicap.  William Haggas’ horse won this race last year off a mark of 95, and he gets to race today off a handicap rating of 87, so 8lb lower.  That gives him a real chance.

Of course, he was in better form last year than he is this year, but his last two runs haven’t been bad.  He wasn’t beaten far on his penultimate run by Lady Freyja at Yarmouth, despite the fact that he finished sixth of six, and he just kept on last time to finish fourth behind Poet’s Society at Leicester in a race that is working out well.

He is going to have to step up from that, but the handicapper dropped him by another 3lb for that run, and it is probable that William Haggas has had this race in mind for him again for a while.   Also, the much bigger field today should help to generate the fast pace that suits Squats so well, and the easier ground is a positive.

There are lots of positives and, as long as all 16 remaining runners stand their ground now, it is a good each-way race. 

SQUATS WON (SP 17/2)