Riskintheground

Riskintheground

16th-Apr-2025

I am backing Riskintheground here.  I thought that he should have been a fair bit shorter than he is.

True, he is racing off a 5lb higher mark than should have been the case, he is 5lb out of the handicap even after his 5lb penalty for winning at Ayr on Friday.  But actually, the handicapper has re-assessed him on a mark of 135, 8lb higher than the mark off which he won at Ayr, and he is racing today off a mark of 137, so he is only 2lb wrong, not 5lb.

Much more importantly, he goes into the race on an upward trajectory.  Dan Skelton’s horse caught the eye of many when he stayed on well to take fifth place behind Bhaloo in a competitive handicap chase at Newbury late last month, and he delivered on the promise that he showed there by winning that handicap chase at Ayr on Friday.  He is 10lb higher today, and into a better race, but he won with lots in hand at Ayr and there is every chance that he can step forward again.

He goes well on goodish ground and this intermediate trip is a good trip for him and, on his only previous run over fences at Cheltenham, he finished a good third in a handicap chase at the October meeting, racing off a mark of 133, just 4lb lower than today’s mark, behind Lisnamult Lad, who was unlucky not to win the Topham Chase at Aintree two weeks ago.  He has lots in his favour.

RISKINTHEGROUND WON (ADV 8/1, SP 15/2)