Guest Selector – Des CoppinsAfter making his “special offer” last week Des ran into some technical issues with his email with potentially many parties unable to contact him to take advantage of that offer, so he has extended the offer for this week as well -see details below
Here is what Des has to say this week
Greetings John and the Fortuna team
Firstly congratulations John on Leaderboard’s brave second to The Good Fight in the Grand National last Sunday. I thought he had it when he mastered the top weight nearing the top of the straight but a very satisfying placing nonetheless for a horse who, like the winner, Good Fight, was an accomplished flat performer before switching to jumps. He really does enjoy his jumping and I thought he measured each fence evenly. This result with these two old boys certainly gave further weight to the defence that jumps racing should always hold a special place both here and in Australia.
Before releasing my horses to follow for this weekend and beyond for better spring racing I have a brief apology to make.
I offered free selections last week on Foxbridge Plate Day for readers of the Friday Flash but disaster struck! My email went down on Friday and this tech dinosaur couldn’t reboot it. Somone a lot younger than moi solved the problem in due course. It was frustrating, to say the least. I had a back up with iCloud, thankfully, for my regular clients but of course those of you who emailed me on the normal “xtra” email , through no fault of your own, weren’t able to make contact.
As a consolation all this week I’ve passed on my tips ex gratis to all who missed Saturday’s analysis and the bonus will continue for anyone else who wishes to test the waters for this Saturday only, the last race day of the month.
Simply email me dcoppins@xtra.co.nz and Saturday’s Wanganui and Riccarton tips including the best and value bets at both meetings will follow before 9am. (Ps deadline for the free tips 8am Saturday)
On to this weekend:
Like last week we see some promising gallopers with bigger and better targets in front of them in the weeks and months ahead.
Saint Bathans, race 4 Wanganui
He’s one who comes to hand quickly and he enjoys a decent moisture read in the track.
Only once in 4 starts, has he not won on a heavy track!
I liked both his two trials this term, especially the one at Te Rapa where he ran 5th and the four horses who finished front of him all ran within 2.6 lengths of Bonny Lass in the Foxbridge Plate 7 days ago.
Whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on it and as he holds important nominations in two of the upcoming Hastings Triple Crown races I feel he will be pretty close to peak fitness on Saturday and race accordingly as long as the track isn’t Trentham -July-like!!
Kabugee, race 9 Riccarton
This bloke has had his share of bad luck but he gets every chance to gain a well deserved break through in the last at Riccarton.
He’s back in class.
The track conditions shouldn’t bother him
The Victress, race 4 Riccarton
She looked promising last season and she’s ready to resume.
If she can cope with the track she will go close but in any case she’s definitely one to follow as well.
Wiremu Pinn rode her in the Te Rapa trial and she galloped kindly as she tucked in neatly behind the first few while hitting the line to confirm she’s capable of fronting up on Saturday, as long as Riccarton also isn’t bottomless.
Good punting folks.
Des
