Sorry about the delay for this selection, had quite a few technical issues and didn’t really expect the price to still be about, which might be a big negative but I’m convinced this selection has a race within her, so she’s definitely much too big a price.
WISHBONE (17:55) form figures look absolutely horrific, with a 15.5 length beating at Bath over 5f being the latest in a string of defeats. That trip was on ground too soft (it looked softer than the official description) and over too sharp a distance. Now back up to a mile for the first time, there has to be questions as to whether she’ll stay. However, I’ve always thought she’d handle 7f adequately if actually put into the race (wasn’t on her only try at the trip) and seen as though Brighton is a fairly easy test for the distance, and that connections have booked the extremely useful Rufus Vergette, who is by far the most useful apprentice in the field, alongside that Wishbone can hardly fall much further down the ratings, then she’s worthy of support here. A useful juvenile for the Quinlan’s, she really needs fast ground to be seen at her best and was pulled out due to the ground on at least three occasions this summer, with the wet weather not being ideal. She caught the eye off much higher marks on the all-weather towards the end of last year/beginning of 2012, often been given plenty to do and giving the impression that there was a plan for her. Her two turf starts have been over 5f and she was supported on the first of these in the betting in the morning, but was uneasy on course and was posted out wide throughout, which for a keen going type wasn’t particularly clever. She didn’t finish too badly to be fair but has hardly been seen since, probably due to the wet weather. Her last start can be excused partially on the fact the ground was riding pretty loose and she was hampered at the start, and conditions will be spot on for Wishbone today, given it’ll be genuine quick ground for her. The mile trip, as mentioned before is a slight concern but she often stayed 6f well and the sharp track means if she’ll stay a mile anywhere, it’ll be here. The big-field should help her settle and with these sorts of Apprentice races, there is a big possibility that they’ll go quickly. Rufus Vergette made a bit of a name for himself in France and although not having the opportunities in the UK as of yet, he’s much more experienced than the stats show and has ridden in some seriously good races over in France, so has an edge over the jockey’s he faces today. 20/1 is a price worth taking, especially as I’m of the belief that there’s always been a plan for her, she’s ridiculously well-handicapped and gets her ground.
Bets
17:55 Brighton – Wishbone; 2pts @ 20/1 Bet365, BetVictor (bog)
