Overpriced Horses

Chief Exec was unable to follow up his recent win at Wolverhampton when returning to Dunstall Park last Friday, but there was a valid excuse for his defeat. Again held up at the back of the field, his chances were severely compromised by the slow early pace – the 4f fraction of 52.11 seconds was significantly slower than the average for Wolverhampton’s 7f distance, and it was to his credit that once the pace quickened up he was again able to show a sharp turn of foot. However, the leaders had got away from him and despite finishing with a flourish Chief Exec was still only fourth at the line.

He’ll be a pound higher for this defeat next time, and as this was his second run in blinkers, punters might take the view that the headgear didn’t work second time around, so Chief Exec might be underbet next time.

Most all-weather fans can’t help but have noticed that field sizes have been much smaller than usual this winter. This has probably helped plenty of horses, but one that it definitely hasn’t benefited is Dudley Docker. There are two issues with this horse. The first is that he pulls hard, and is therefore always likely to be better with a strong pace. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that all six of his career wins have come in double-figure fields, and that he is 0-12 in single-figure fields. He had struggled to win in smaller fields on his last five starts prior to running in a 12-runner handicap at Wolverhampton, when he ran on in most eyecatching fashion in the closing stages to finish a never-nearer fifth; his jockey reported that the saddle had slipped.

The second issue, unfortunately, is that Dudley Docker is not very genuine, and has on occasions managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. However, he has been declared in a field of 12 at Lingfield on Saturday and is worth each-way support at likely double-figure odds.

Value Next Time is the name of this column, and it’s not absolutely certain that will apply to Canary Islands, as his next outing will be his third, after which he’ll be qualified for handicaps. But he definitely shaped with promise at Wolverhampton on Saturday in the maiden won by Al Samha – he was caught in an unpromising position towards the rear as the pace slackened around the halfway stage, but then stayed on really well despite hanging left in the straight to finish a never-nearer sixth. He’s been declared at Lingfield on Saturday but is only worth a small bet given that it looks a strong race and it’s his third run; keep an eye on him with a view to the run after, though.

Masked is rapidly turning into one of the unlucky horses of the all-weather season. He has now run four times for new trainer Ralph Beckett, all in competitive races against in-form rivals; he has finished third on all four occasions – and has been put up by the handicapper after all four defeats.

Moreover, his latest effort was a really good one. The fractions over the first ten furlongs of this extended 1m5f event were much the slowest of the eight races run over C&D this year, which would not have suited Masked, who has form over 2m, and he was held up too. Then Seb Sanders was short of room turning for home as the leaders quickened away, but Masked stayed on stoutly once in the clear, finishing faster than any of his rivals and giving the impression he would have won given a truly-run race and a clear run. So even though he has gone up another pound for that effort, he’s still one to be interested in next time.