Chepstow preview: Unison can exploit drop in class
Published:
Unison has proven form in the mud, and can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 1m handicap on a competitive eight-race card at Chepstow today (16.10).
The Peter Makin trained gelding showed progressive form throughout last season when winning three times, with the last of those successes coming in a class 4 contest at Newmarket over 1m 2f.
Unison showed plenty of pace to race at the head of affairs and, after taking up the running a furlong from home, battled on gamely to beat Handiwork by a head off a mark of 75.
The five-year-old is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off the same rating, and that gives the son of Jeremy major claims from a handicapping perspective.
Unison should also be spot on to to himself justice following a promising return to action at Windsor three weeks ago, his first outing for 178 days, and the drop back to a mile will hold no fears as he has twice been successful over it.
Another plus is that Unison has winning form on soft ground, and with Steve Drowne in the saddle this looks a golden opportunity for him to get back on the winning trail.
Italian Tom runs off a career-low mark in the 6f handicap (14.40), and looks decent value to score an overdue success.
The eight-year-old has been a terrific servant over the years for trainer Ron Harris, winning eight of his 44 starts on the turf.
His last success came in a 6f contest on the all-weather at Kempton 13 months ago when staying on well to score by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 65, and Italian Tom went on to be placed off 70.
The veteran now gets into this off of just 57, 8lbs lower than when last successful, and that gives Italian Tom major claims at the weights.
Although the gelding has’t won on the turf for nearly three years, he is arguably more effective on it than the all-weather and has winning form on soft ground.
Italian Tom also didn’t shape too badly last time out at Kempton, and on the pick of his form the son of Le Vie Dei Colori is too well-treated to ignore in what looks a weak class 5 contest.
Selections:
14.10: Another Boy
14.40: Artesana
15.10: Golden Jubilee
15.40: Alcatraz
16.10: Unison (NAP)
16.40: Italian Tom (NB)
17.10: Iron Butterfly
17.45: Medburn Cutler
