Back-to-lay Teo Vivo and Emperors Choice, Portrait King and Harry The Viking
2.10 Newcastle
Teo Vivo is saddled with top-weight in this 2m1/2f handicap hurdle, and a 9lb rise for a 9 length win last time out at Kelso in heavy ground, but it was an impressive performance and faces similar conditions again today.
The going does seem key to his ability to show his best, with all his career wins coming on soft and heavy ground. He has traded below at least half his BSP in-running in 7 of his 8 last races. If there is not much pace on he is happy to make his own running but he is just as happy to sit in behind the leaders; he currently trades around 6.20 for a back-to-lay.
2.45 Newcastle: Betfred Eider Handicap Chase
These long distance handicap chases can be great in-running races for horses that excel over extreme distance but do not get much chance to show it for most of the season, with limited opportunities over 4 miles plus.
I will chance 3 runners in this year’s race at big prices and hope to get one matched down to low prices in-running; Emperors Choice, Portrait King and Harry The Viking.
Emperors Choice is in dire form, having being pulled up in 4 of his last 5 races but today’s 4 mile race on soft ground could see him hang around upfront for quite a while to trade low in-running. Prior to his recent poor run of form he won 2 staying chases, the last off a mark of 135. Today he runs off the same mark having slipped down the handicap; he currently trades around 30.0 for a back-to-lay.
Harry The Viking scrapes in at the bottom of the handicap on 10-13, with Rachel MacDonald taking a further 7lb off his back. He also likes to race prominently and has traded below at least half his BSP in-running in 3 of his last 4 races. He probably found the good ground too quick for him last time out, but should be able to find his rhythm over this slower ground; he currently trades around 36.0 for a back-to-lay.
Portrait King looks the strongest of the 3 selections and has a great record in this race having won it in 2012, and then finished third in it last year, racing of 131. He races off 1lb less this year and after several races this season over inadequate trips around 3 miles; he could put in a much bigger effort stepped up to today’s 4 miles. He generally races in mid-field, and if on a going day he should be challenging in the latter stages for the lead; he currently trades around 22.0 for a back-to-lay.
