Wednesday 26th

rossom

2.40 Exeter

Phoenix Flight 40/1

I've been waiting to see Phoenix Flight on good ground over hurdles for ages and off a mark of 114 I think this 9 year old has a really good chance of winning this. Very lightly raced over hurdles in recent years, Phoenix Flight was a heavily eased 14L winner of a Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen in back in May 2011 and he followed that up on his next start of hurdles at Leicester when winning by a nose from the now 135 rated Rowan Tiger in December of that year and he's only had 2 starts over hurdles since then. Back in November 2012, he massively caught my eye off a mark of 125 over 21f at Southwell as he looked home and hosed for all money as he was swinging off the bridle about 5L clear of the rest of the field that were driven along and swinging into the home straight it looked as if he jumped the last two he would win easily. However, whether it was his exertions when pulling early on or a lack of race fitness (2nd run back after 8 months off the track and got an easy time of things) but having jumped two out he all of a sudden looked utterly legless and if he was shot as he stopped to nearly a walk as Timmy Murphy eased him to come home a 30L beaten 7th. After 5 subsequent starts on the flat, Phoenix Flight was last seen over hurdles in a competitive race at Cheltenham last October off a mark of 115 where I thought he ran a fine race to be a 12L beaten 5th. With a deluge of rain prior to the off severely impairing his chances, Phoenix Flight was very keen in the rear of the large field for at least half the contest but he made very eye catching headway under Liam Treadwell before the combination of being unable to quicken up on the ground and his earlier exploits saw him finish a highly credible 5th. Eased in class and dropped 1lb to a mark of 114, I think Phoenix Flight is really going to appreciate today's better ground and I think the drop back to 2m3f should definitely help too as he should settle better and I think he's got a much, much better chance than his 40/1 price tag suggests. With Liam Treadwell going to Exeter for one ride, I'm definitely quite hopeful of a big performance and it would be great if James Evans' gelding could land this contest.

UrbanSea

Was tempted to back Decoy for small money in that at 40 but left it. Good luck

rossom

Thought he was given a poor enough ride. Got no cover which was mad given how hard he pulled but he wasn't beaten all that far despite not ever been given a full drive. I think there are definitely races to be won with him but he'll need to learn how to settle.

UrbanSea

Backed the out of form but well handicapped Pistol here at 16s. Very risky

UrbanSea

Absolute mule.