So, the weather keeps wreaking havoc with racing and I will not be pushed into betting on all weather races that I do not have much of an opinion of. I'm happy to keep my powder dry until racing resumes which will hopefully be soon. There's an inspection at Taunton but I've picked one out anyway together with one in the very last race of the day at Kempton.
Taunton
15:15, Saturday Meeting 18th January Mares' Handicap Hurdle
Flowering 5/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)
This is a pretty low grade Mare's Handicap Hurdle to close the day's action in the West Country and it's wide open. At the prices I'm tempted by the unexposed Flowering for the Skelton's whose runners are always respected on handicap debut. She was a pretty ordinary maiden on the flat but immediately showed ability in this sphere when winning on hurdling debut at 33/1. She was overpitched in Listed company at Newbury next time out but bounced back to form when running a creditable 4th in a decent little conditions race at Catterick 22 days ago. The second that day wasn't far in front of her and he has won since to help boost that form. An opening mark of 93 looks very manageable.
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Kempton
20:00, Unibet Zero% Mission Handicap
Franceso Baracca 13/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)
The bottom weight here has a decent record round Kempton having won here over 12 furlongs in August. The way he powered away that day suggested that staying trips would be where his future lies and he has been limited to just 2 starts over today's trip of 2 miles, both at the Sunbury track. The first occasion came in a steadily run 5 runner affair where the winner got first run and couldn't be reeled in late on but the winning margin was diminishing all the time. He races off the same mark here (70). This 4 year old's only run at the distance since then came here in October in the Stayers Series Final when he was racing from 10 pounds out of the handicap but still managed to finish a creditable 5th of 11 when an unconsidered 33/1 shot. He again came from a mile back that day and was just given too much to do. He finished behind Zoran that day (likely favourite here) but Francesco Baracca meets that opponent on 10 pound better terms here. That's a mighty swing in the weights. He's drawn fine in stall 4 so shouldn't get caught wide and I again expect he will be played late. It's also interesting that he will be ridden by Edward Greatrex for the first time (usually ridden by Georgia Dobie) and that the trainer is also running the top weight.
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