Stratford preview: Cyrien Star to shine under Johnson
David Metcalf | October 29, 2015
Cyrien Star can take advantage of what looks a very lenient mark to land the 2m 6f handicap chase that open proceedings on today’s card at Stratford (13.40).
Henry Daley’s trained gelding was a three-time winner over hurdles who was rated 130 at his peak. After failing to shine in his first two starts last season, Cyrien Star had his attentions switched to chasing and ran very well on debut over the larger obstacles when third of 10 to Jac The Legend at Catterick off a mark of 115.
The eight-year-old then failed to build on that effort when pulled-up in a class 3 contest at Warwick when last seen in action, but that was a deep race for the grade and may well have come too quickly.
Cyrien to have punters reaching for the Star
Cyrien Star has since been given a lengthy break to freshen up, and the handicapper has been quick to cut him plenty of slack.
The son of Bollin Eric is now able to race off a mark of just 107, and that makes Cyrien Star look potentially thrown-in at the weights judged on his hurdles form.
Cyrien Star also now drops back into class 4 company, and with the in-form Richard Johnson in the saddle looks the one to beat.
In the 2m 3f handicap chase (15.40), Cody Wyoming can build on a promising comeback run to land the spoils.
Charlie Mann’s trained gelding enjoyed a highly successful campaign last season when winning three times, with the last of those victories coming at Catterick where he stayed on strongly to score by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 117.
The nine-year-old was put up to 123 after that success, and ran below par on his final start of the campaign when fifth at Newbury.
Value in Wyoming
However, Cody Wyoming showed that he could be competitive off his current mark when finishing a cracking second at Kempton on seasonal reappearance 11 days ago.
The son of Passing Glance kept on strongly to go down by just 1/2 a length to Akraim, with the pair pulling 23 lengths clear of the third.
That gives the form a solid look, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn Cody Wyoming out quickly off an unchanged mark as he is due to race off 4lb higher in future races.
It makes Cody Wyoming look well-treated in a wide-open affair and weighted to run a huge race.
Selections:
13.40: Cyrien Star (NAP)
14.10: Knight’s Parade
14.40: Colin’s Brother
15.10: Brod Na Heireann
15.40: Cody Wyoming (NB)
16.10: Charbel
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