Pastoral Player

29th-Jul-2015

Pastoral Player is risky, he is a little inconsistent and he will need luck in-running from stall 15 and given his come-from-behind style of racing.

However, he has been under the radar all season, he has put up some really nice performances that seem to have gone unnoticed.  He was a running-on third behind Spark Plug and Gm Hopkins in a hot handicap at Newbury in May.  Those two horses are now rated 5lb and 10lb higher, respectively, than they were then, whereas Pastoral Player is actually 4lb lower.

He ran well in Jacob Black’s race at Sandown at the end of May in a race in which the prominent racers dominated.  His most recent race was at Newmarket, in which he just couldn’t get cover and was too keen from flagfall.

He should get cover today, he should get the fast pace that he needs.  It is easy to see him travelling well into the race in rear.  Hopefully, then, he will get the gaps that he needs.  It may be a white-knuckle ride, but he could get there, it could be worth it.

The handicapper has given him a serious chance, dropping him by 5lb since his Sandown run, and young rider Charlie Bennett is getting to know him well now.  This will be his eighth time to ride him.

Also, he is back at Goodwood, where he ran so well to finish second to Fiftyshadesofgrey on his debut this term.  He meets that rival on 12lb better terms.  He could just be a well-handicapped horse now.

PASTORAL PLAYER WON (ADV 16/1, SP 14/1)