10th May 2017 | Horse Racing
Chester Tips: Spring Loaded
Well drawn, likes running around a bend and could have the race set up for him.
It almost goes with saying that you need a low draw to win a 5f sprint at Chester but backing El Astronaute to make all from stall 1 could see you fall into trap.
So much is spoken about a low draw/getting the rail that jockeys sometimes try and get a lead at the ruin of everything else – mainly pace. In the last ten years only two winners have made all in this race; Masamah (2010) and Bertoliver (2008). By comparison there have been four winners that ‘chased the leader’ and four that were ‘held up’ or in ‘midfield’.
On paper Spring Loaded wouldn’t look an obvious choice but the race could be set up perfectly for him. Usually a hold-up horse he’s done most of his running over 6f but he’s got speed with the majority of his wins coming on sharp, turning all-weather tracks.
On Boxing Day, he put up a big adjusted speed rating of 98 and was the fastest closer by 0.72s. This is a horse capable of running to a three-figure mark on the all-weather yet he’s off 95 this afternoon.
The slight concern is whether the 5-year-old can transfer his form onto turf but on the plus side he finished seventh in last year’s Wokingham when sent off at 12/1, racing off 100. He’s been kept fresh (needs gaps between races) for a tilt at some valuable turf sprints just like this one.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 02:19 10th May, 2017 but subject to change