Aintree - Race 2 v Race Winner

12 September 2009

Preview By Tipster rdeacon (England)

St Leger day at Doncaster, and a very competitve days racing.

The race i'm interested in today is the 2.25 at Doncaster.

This is the Portland Handicap.

This is a class 2 Heritage Handicap, run over 5 1/2 furlongs.

This is typically one of the norths most competitive sprint handicaps of the year.

This year looks no different.

There are 22 runners declared.

This looks hugely competitive, and chances can be made for many.

I have 2 against the field.

There are plenty of front runners in the line up today, so the race should be run at a furious pace.

In years gone by, the draw has played a part in this race with such a big field.

However, since the track has undergone some realignment work, any draw bias now appears minimal.

So where is the early pace.

The majority of the early pace appears to be drawn low.

Captain Dunne from stall 2, Markab 4, Pavershooz 6, Striking Spirit 7 and Judge N Jury 8 are all likely to blazing away early.

However, there is some pace high, with Jaconet from stall 20 and Peak District from 24.

So although the low numbers will be blasting away early, there's a couple drawn high also that won't be hanging around.

That being the case, it's very difficult to say either way which side, if any, will be favoured.

For that reason, I will be taking a chance on 2 selections.

With so much early pace on offer, an end to and gallop looks assured.

That being the case, the ace could well be something finishing from off the pace.

I will take a hold up performer from each side of the draw.

The 1st horse I will be backing today is number 11 ISHETOO.

This horse is trained by Alan Dickman and will be ridden today by Frederick Tylicki.

Ishetoo is a standing dish in these types of races, running in most of the big sprint handicaps in the north.

Ishetoo has won 7 times in his career.

The horse has won 6 times over 5 furlongs and 1 over 6 furlongs.

The fact he has won over 6 furlongs could be important in this race.

These races are fast and furious, and stamina can quite often tell late on.

The horse has won on fast ground and won in this grade.

Ishetoo still looks well handicapped.

The horse won last year from a rating of 92.

He races today from an effective rating of 92.

He is clearly capable of scoring from this mark.

Ishetoo is like most of these types of sprinters, in that he can be highly inconsistent.

If things go his way, he is a useful sprinter.

However, good runs are mixed with an equal number of poor ones.

The horse is a hold up performer, who needs a strong early pace.

He will certainly get that here today.

Big fields seem to suit this horse.

Ishetoo is drawn today in stall number 1.

As mentioned previously, there is plenty of early pace drawn low.

That will suit this horse.

The danger with a horse like Ishetoo is that he could get too far behind early.

However, if he can stay in touch early, then he should be finishing strongly.

Ishetoo has plenty in his favour today to suggest a big run could be on the cards.

The horse is a winner in this grade and on this ground.

The horse is still nicely handicapped on previous winning form.

Frederik Tylicki looks a good jockey booking, as he has ridden 3 winners from just 6 rides for this stable.

The way the race is likely to be run should suit the horse today.

Clearly for a hold up performer coming from stall 1, he will need some luck in running.

That is always the case with hold up performers in such big fields.

Granted some luck in running, Ishetoo is capable of picking them off late to score here.

At the prices available this morning, Ishetoo represents some each way value.

We can get 33/1 best odds guaranteed with Stan James and Ladbrokes this morning.

I will be taking that and backing Ishetoo each way.

The 2nd horse I will be backing here is number 16 FULLANDBY.

Fullandby is trained by Tim Etherington and will be ridden today by Joe Fanning.

This horse is similar to Ishetoo, in that he likes to be held up and finish strongly off a fast pace.

He too should get the race run to suit.

Fullandby has won 8 times in his career.

The horse is versatile with regards to both trip and ground.

Fullandby has won over 5, 6 and 7 furlongs.

He has won on ground ranging from Good to firm, to heavy.

Although possibly suited by some cut in the ground, the horse has won on genuinely fast ground on more than 1 occasion.

One such occasion was in this very race 2 years ago.

Conditions today should be fine for the horse.

Like Ishetoo, this horse has plenty going for him today and could go well at a big price.

The horse has won on this ground and in this grade.

He is well handicapped, after having won previously from a mark as high as 102.

He races today from a rating of just 94.

He has won this very race 2 years ago from a similar mark.

As a hold up performer that likes to come from off a fast pace, he should also get the race run to suit.

The 1 downside with this horse, is that like Ishetoo, he can sometimes get behind early.

He will need to stay in touch early here today.

If he doesn't get too far behind early on, then he too should be finishing better than most.

As with Ishetoo, clearly luck in running will be needed for Fullandby.

Granted some luck in running, then this horse can also go well here today at a big price.

2 points EACH WAY (4 points in total) ISHETOO @ 34.0 with Stan James 1/4 odds a place 1,2,3,4

2 points EACH WAY (4points in total) Fullanby @ 34.0 with Stan James 1/4 odds a place 1,2,3,4