Bretney

8th-Dec-2024

Raceview Road is the logical favourite for the Borders National.  He is a progressive young stayer who goes well at Kelso and who continues to progress.  But he is stepping up significantly in trip today.  He could improve for it, but he is short.

I am backing Your Own Story and Bretney against him at the prices.  Your Own Story was unlucky not to win the four-mile handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival in May.  He was hampered a little when the leader Western Zara fell in front of him at the fourth last fence, which wasn’t ideal, nor was it ideal that he was left in front from that point.  That is a long way from home at Punchestown, and he just seemed to get lonely on the run-in, The Gradual Slope getting up to beat him by a neck, the pair of them clear. 

He is a real stamina horse, who ran well over three miles at Kelso in April to finish second to Up Helly Aa.  That is his only run to date at Kelso, and he is only 2lb higher in the handicap now than he was then.

He was pulled up at Carlisle last time, but that was his seasonal debut, he should come on for that.  The first-time cheekpieces could elicit further improvement, and he should appreciate the step back up to this marathon trip.  

Bretney should also appreciate the step back up to this marathon trip.  Henry Daly’s horse stayed on well to win a handicap chase at Perth in April on his final run last season.  He didn’t have an easy time of it in front, but he battled on well all the way to the line to see off the challenge from Duke Of Deception, leaving the impression that he had at least a little more left to give if more had been required.

He is 4lb higher in the handicap today, but that is manageable.  He is another who was beaten on his debut this season, at Bangor, but that was over three miles, and it should bring him forward for this.  He was only just beaten in a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles last November on his only run to date at Kelso, and he should be even better over today’s trip.  Sam Twiston-Davies has struck up a good partnership with him, and he should relish this marathon trip.  His record over three miles and five furlongs or further reads 3211.

BRETNEY WON (ADV 12/1, SP 12/1)

YOUR OWN STORY 2ND (ADV 12/1, SP 14/1)