Aintree - Race 3 v Race Winner

24 September 2009

Preview By Tipster rdeacon (England)

Well after a horrible couple of losing 10 pointers (Anelka wasn't even on the bench yesterday) I'm going back to horses for a longshot with a decent chance.

This is a class 5 sprint handicap run over 5 Furlongs.

Although there are only 12 runners declared, this looks a competitive little race.

Cases could be made for several of these today.

Having said that, the way the race looks likely to be run, doesn't look like suiting too many at all.

There will be a tremendous amount of early pace on here, with several front runners and prominent racers.

Mr Wolf, Go Go Green, Oriental Rose and Ingleby Star are all trailblazers that like to go from the front.

With Tangerine Trees, Peninsular War, King Of Swords, Select Committee and Pacific Pride all prominent racers, this looks like being fast and furious.

With so much early pace likely, and Pontefract being a stiff course with an uphill finish, this race looks like it could be nicely set up for a hold up performer.

The 3 remaining horses we haven't yet mentioned are all likely to be out the back early.

They should be finishing strongly however, with the race run to suit them.

Of those remaining 3 horses, I like the chances of 1 in particular here today.

The horse I will be backing in this race will be number 12 COMMANDER WISH.Now although this horse is officially out of the handicap today, he looks to have plenty going for him.The main thing he has going for him, is as we have already mentioned, that the race looks like being run to suit.With so much early pace here today, things look likely to be set up for a hold up performer.

Of the 3 in the field, Commander Wish looks to have the most going for him today.

The horse has a good record here at Pontefract, having run 3 times here previously.

Those 3 runs have seen the horse finish 1st, 3rd and 7th.

The fact he has run well here at Pontefract is always a plus on this stiff track.

A strongly run 5 furlongs on a stiff track appear to suit this horse, as he as also gone well at Beverley in the past.

Although they race the other way around at Beverley, the course is fairly similar to Pontefract.

So, a strongly run 5 furlongs here at Pontefract should suit the horse today.

As mentioned, Commander Wish is officially out of the handicap today.

By that we mean he will be carrying more weight than the handicapper says he should.

Despite that, the horse isn't too badly handicapped on previous form.

His last win came here at Pontefract last summer from a mark of 63.

He races here today from a rating of just 57.

So despite being officially 4 lbs out of the handicap today, the horse is racing from a lower mark than for his last win.

Commander Wish is a hold up performer.

On top of that, he can often start slowly too.

He is a horse that will quite often be some way behind at halfway, but if the pace is strong enough, when the leaders start to weaken, he will be powering home strongly.

The guaranteed strong early pace here should set things up nicely for the horse today.

If he doesn't get too far behind early, then he could just swoop late to score.

Commander Wish has plenty going for him today.

A strongly run 5 furlongs on a stiff track looks ideal.

The quick ground won't be a problem.

He has a good course record here at Pontefract.

Despite being officially out of the handicap, the horse is still on a decent looking mark, lower than when last winning.

So with the race looking likely to be set up nicely for him, Commander Wish represents a decent each way bet here today, in what is an open looking race.

3 points EACH WAY (6points in total) Commander Wish @ 21.0 with Bet365 1/4 odds a place 1,2,3