The race looks to be around Paul Nicholls’s Irving and All Yours. Stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies chooses the latter after his Grade 1 success at Aintree, yet his trainer has sounded caution over the deteriorating ground and the former is a dodgy jumper so neither can be backed with confidence.
I like the outside chance of Olofi, who looks well handicapped now 4lbs below his last winning mark. That was a long way back in 2012, but he goes well fresh and, with ground no issue, his trainer has talked up his chances so 20/1 looks generous each-way value.
“Olofi’s work has been top class and it suggests he’s as good as ever. This is the first time we’ve run him nice and fresh first time out away from Cheltenham for a while. Usually when he runs at Cheltenham he comes there two out looking likely to win only to not get up the hill. I think the flatter track should suit and the ground won’t bother him. He’s not had a lot of runs and he usually goes well fresh so a small field might just suit him. The handicapper has given him a chance as he didn’t crucify him for finishing relatively close to The New One last season.”
0.5pts ew Olofi @20/1, Wincanton 15:15 (Bet365)
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