3 minute read
The team return with two selections for Wednesday's action – an exciting hurdling debutant from Ffos Las, and a big-price handicap prospect from Kempton's all-weather card.
Expensive Irish point winner Buckna debuts at Ffos Las on Wednesday in the 2m Dandara Golwg Gwendraeth Maiden Hurdle (12:15) and he looks hard to oppose at the top of the market.
Warren Greatrex's charge was visually mature in the point-to-point field, jumping professionally throughout and responding well to go clear in the home stretch on his sole appearance in that sphere.
The form of that Kirkistown point has proven credible, with the second-placed Paul Collins going on to finish third in a strong Wexford maiden hurdle – a race he looked poised to score in before the jockey lost his irons.
Stable form is also worth noting here, with Greatrex operating at an impressive strike rate of 30% over the last 14 days. James Bowen's booking is a further boon, as he bids to add to his tally of five winners across his last eighteen rides.
While he will have to win in more challenging company than this to justify his sales-topping £350,000 price tag, Wednesday should prove to be a successful introduction to racing under Rules for Buckna.
WIN – Buckna
Odds – 6/4
Mbappe has been a picture of consistency this year, winning three of his last seven starts, and he could represent some value in the 1m Unibet Supporting Safer Gambling Week Apprentice Handicap (16:30) on Wednesday.
The basis of my interest here lies in the sectionals – David Loughnane's three-year-old has consistently posted sub-12 second times between the two- and one-furlong poles over the seven-furlong trip. This implies that he has been finishing his races with plenty left in the tank and going up to a mile on this occasion ought to bring about some improvement.
This is backed up in the speed figures, with the son of Blue Point rating a career-best of 80 (ATR) on the clock last time out, perhaps suggesting that he is on an upward trajectory.
Having won from a double-figure draw at this venue in the past, stall thirteen doesn't really put me off Mbappe at 10/1 and he earns the vote in a typically open apprentice handicap.
EACH WAY – Mbappe
Odds – 10/1