Sam King advised a 5/2 winner at Beverley yesterday and is back with two selections on Thursday afternoon…
Pontefract 3.03 - King's Reign
Charlie Appleby and Dougie Costello have been seen teaming up to excellent effect this season, with an impressive 40% strike rate (6-15) when the pair combine.
Appleby alone has had a 36% strike-rate at Pontefract over the last five years and it's hardly surprising he looks towards Costello to partner the regally-bred, yet somewhat disappointing King's Reign in the 3.03.
By Dubawi out of the Group 1-winning mare God Given, it's probably fair to say King's Reign hasn't lived up to his pedigree. He's looked outpaced and fairly disinterested with the game on his first three outings to date, but now goes handicapping off a mark of 77 and first-time cheekpieces could be exactly what he needs to be sparked into life.
None of his rivals this afternoon looks to be particularly well-handicapped and Charlie Appleby's gelded son of Dubawi is by far open to the most improvement. He looks worth siding with at general odds of 5/2.
Odds – 5/2
Yarmouth 4.25 – Smart Hero
There's no doubt Smart Hero will need a clear-cut career-best to defy a revised rating of 87 back in handicap company at Yarmouth, but James Tate may have figured out his trip now and it wouldn't be at all shocking if he were up to the task.
He was collared late on off a mark of 79 on his handicap debut at Sandown but looked the winner for most of the final furlong before falling in a hole late on. The gelded son of Shamardal wouldn't have needed to improve to get off the mark in a moderate Southwell maiden next time, but it was evident that he looked much more at home dropping back a furlong, travelling strongly before quickening up to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
That maiden success should have done his confidence the world of good and with further improvement now expected over sprinting trips, he could well strike up a sequence, rising up through the handicap ranks in the process.
Odds – 7/2
