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Newmarket Preview: Well-treated Packet will be hard to contain

| 15.08.2014
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Joe Packet has dropped markedly in the weights and looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to take advantage in the 6f sprint at Newmarket this evening (6.00).

The Jonathan Portman trained gelding is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a 6f contest at Windsor back in 2011 off a mark of 91.

However, there is nothing wrong with Joe Packet’s resolution and he has run some really solid races to be placed in decent handicaps.

They include an excellent third to Asphan Sam on soft ground at Goodwood last October off a mark of 90, and having been rated as high as 104 in the past Joe Packet now gets into this class 4 contest off just 81.

That is the lowest that the seven-year-old has run off in four years, and gives the son of Joe Bear outstanding claims at the weights.

Joe Packet also has plenty of solid form on soft ground, and will not get a better opportunity than this to get back in the winners’ enclosure.

Tullia bounced back to form when runner-up last time out at Ffos Las and can go one better in the 1m handicap (7.00).

The William Knight trained filly is yet to finish out of the frame on soft ground, and is just 1lb higher than when winning on it at Salisbury on her final start of 2012.

The daughter of Footstepsinthesand started this season off with two solid efforts to be placed on her favoured going, and after a couple of below par runs on quick ground came right back to her best when beaten 1 1/4 lengths on good-to-soft ground 10 days ago.

It was an effort which suggested Tullia was ready to go in again, and with the rains having hit the track the three-year-old looks the one they all have to beat.

Minstrel Lad also has proven form testing conditions, and that makes the Jack Holt trained gelding look a bit of value to turn over favourite Tete Orange in the 1m 2f handicp (7.35).

Both the six-year-old’s career successes have come when there has been cut in the ground, and in the last of those Minstrel Lad bolted up by seven lengths at Leicester back in May.

This contest doesn’t look much stronger, and another plus is that Minstrel Lad also has course and distance winning for to his name.

Selections:
5.35: Fieldsman
6.00: Joe Packet (NAP)
6.30: Manshaa
7.00: Tullia (NB)
7.35: Minstrel Lad
8.05: Felwah

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Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.