Carlisle and Chepstow previews: Pivotman worth a punt, Medburn Cutler ready to collect
Published:
David Metcalf | September 13, 2016
Class-dropping Pivotman weighted to strike at Carlisle
Pivotman looks decent value to take advantage of a drop in grade and get back to winning ways in the 1m handicap on today’s twilight card Carlisle (17.15).
The Mick Easterby trained eight-year-old is on a losing run of 18 having not scored since landing an amateur riders’s contest on the polytrack surface at Kempton back in January 2015 off a mark of 78.
However, the veteran has run well to make the frame on several occasions, including when third at Wolverhampton last year off 80 and a fine second on seasonal reappearance at Pontefract off 70.
Pivotman is now able to race off a reduced mark of just 63, 15lb lower than when last successful on the all-weather and 2lb lower than his last winning turf mark.
It gives the gelding outstanding claims at the weights on the pick of his form, especially as Pivotman now drops marked in grade into class 6 company having competed in class 4 contests on his last six outings.
King Of Swing ready to call the tune
King Of Swing shaped really well when runner-up last time out and can go one better to land the extended 6f handicap (18.45).
The James Given trained gelding hasn’t won since scoring on juvenile debut but hinted that his time was near when finding only the unexposed Run For the Hills to good at Thirsk last month.
After attempting to make all, the three-year-old stuck to the task well once headed to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
The front two pulled 3 3/4 lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look and if building on that effort this looks a nice opportunity for King Of Swing to get back on the scoresheet.
Carlisle tips
16.15: Southern Strife
16.45: Romantic View
17.15: Pivotman (NAP)
17.45: Amood
18.15: Alpine Dream
18.45: King Of Swing (NB)
19.15: Marcus Antonius
Course specialist Medburn Cutler makes plenty of appeal at Chepstow
Medburn Cutler has a terrific record at Chepstow and can further enhance it with victory in the 1m 4f handicap on today’s card at the Welsh venue (17.10).
The Paul Henderson trained six-year-old has a 57 per cent strike rate at the track having won four and been placed once from seven starts.
In the last of those successes three starts back, Medburn Cutler surged clear to slam Fitzwilly by three lengths off a mark of 71.
Although now 6lb higher in the weights, the gelding showed he could be competitive off his current rating of 77 when a fine 1 1/2 length third in a class 4 contest at Epsom five days ago.
That represents very sold form in the context of this lower grade class 5 contest and another plus is that Medburn Cutler now gets the services of title chasing jockey Jim Crowley in the saddle who is 1-1 on him.
Harlequin Striker fancied to score
Harlequin Striker shaped well when runner-up last time out and looks the answer to the 7f handicap (15.40).
The gelding won twice last year when trained by Mick Channon and after joining Dean Ivory for the start of this season got back to winning ways at Windsor back in June when registering a game 1 1/4 length success.
Harlequin Striker backed that up with a fine neck second at Goodwood and comes into the contest having done as well as could be expected when beaten six lengths by September Stars over 1m at Windsor.
The son of Bahamian Bounty meets nothing of the calibre of that progressive rival in this line-up and off an unchanged mark is going to be tough to beat.
Chepstow bets
14.10: Intimate Art
14.40: Dark Hero
15.20: Jazz Cat
15.40: Harlequin Striker (NB)
16.10: Desert Tango
16.40: Sir Pass I Am
17.10: Medburn Cutler
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