The Changing Man

The Changing Man

15th-Feb-2025

I thought that the betting was wrong here.  I thought that The Changing Man should have been closer to Jingko Blue and Lowry’s Bar in the market than he was.  It is a pity that Lowry’s Bar is out in one sense, there will be a Rule 4 deduction to our bet, but it does mean that there will probably be less pressure up front, which is a positive for The Changing Man.  His chance of winning may have been improved by more than the Rule 4 deduction allows for, if that makes sense.

The case for The Changing Man is solid.  He hasn’t yet won over fences, but he has been running some big races in defeat in some of the big staying handicap chases.  He fell early in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton on his return this season when he was still travelling well, before going on to finish second in the Rehearsal Chase, the Silver Cup and the Great Yorkshire Chase.  They are three of the most competitive staying handicap chases on the British racing calendar.

His only run at Ascot was in that Silver Cup, when he only just gave best to Ascot specialist Victtorino half way up the run-in.  He rallied when he was joined, and the pair of them pulled well clear of their rivals.

He is rated 13lb inferior to Jingko Blue, and he only receives 5lb from him, so you can see why Nicky Henderson’s horse is favourite.  But The Changing Man’s expeirece and proven ability to handle the Ascot fences could be a big asset here and, if he can get into a good jumping rhythm from early, he could have his rivals in trouble from a fair way out.

Peaky Boy is a player too, he is unexposed, but all his form is at Cheltenham, and the ground may be faster than ideal for him today.

THE CHANGING MAN WON (ADV 11/2 [R4], SP 7/2)