Bet of the day: Potters Approach worth trusting
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We go through the card at Fontwell
Punters saw what had the potential to be a fantastic weekend of horse racing almost ruined by the weather, with meetings at Ascot and Taunton ruled out due to the frost on Saturday while Sunday’s schedule at Hereford was also put on ice.
Thankfully, two have escaped the winter on Sunday afternoon, in the coral sponsored meet at Leopardstown and seven-race card at Fontwell. You can follow our preview of the Irish action here, while our bet of the day at the West Sussex track is mapped out below.
With racing getting started at 1.00pm, subject to passing an 8.00am inspection, the focus of our bet of the day on the card lines up in the 3.00pm Novices Hurdle, a contest settled over the two-mile five furlong trip. Of the seven runners expected to register, Potters Approach is our winner.
Johnson inspires confidence
Champion jockey Richard Johnson sits in the saddle, which automatically has punters stand up and take note, and backers can draw confidence from the six-year-old gelding’s two career starts to date. A runner-up behind Bardd at Sandown was followed by a third at Plumpton last month. The latter rates as the better form of the two as the race has worked out quite well, with the winner, No Comment, scoring again since, while Stowaway Magic in second was also seen banking prize money next time out.
Potters Approach has shown natural progression so far and wasn’t beaten much in a lively encounter. That Plumpton contest probably rates as better company than today’s crowd, and if he can keep his improvement up to scratch, then we’ll see Warren Greatrex’s rep do the business. Supported by the market, which makes him hot-favourite for the race, that’s another tick in his box.
Mr Bachster to serve up a double
We look to have a chance at scoring a quick-fire double in the next on the agenda, a two-mile one-furlong handicap chase due at 3.30pm. This doesn’t look like the toughest puzzle to solve and, if my thinking is correct, Mr Bachster will come home in front.
Kerry Lee’s experienced 12-year-old has proven his liking for this type of race in the past, shaping as a previous course and distance winner, and with some serious question marks hanging over much of the seven-runner field, career win number five seems a real possibility.
He hasn’t popped his head in front in over a year now, but looks to have been given every chance at the weights, judging by previous form, and I am more than happy to give him a shot.
Fontwell Selections
1:00 – Tearsofclewbay
1:30 – John’s Luck
2:00 – Minstrels Gallery
2:30 – Shanann Star
3:00 – Potters Approach
3:30 – Mr Bachster
4:00 – Tikkanbar
