S.P. Read Esq: Towcester Star Spreads races

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Thursday’s racing at TOWCESTER and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

The goals flowed at Goodison last night to land the recommended sell of the third match goal with Star Spreads.

Star Spreads are sponsoring the first two races on the Towcester card today so no better place to start !

12.40 Towcester starspreads.com Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

The ground – described as ‘good, good to soft in places’ – is relatively quick for the time of year and this 2m5f novices’ hurdle might not develop into a typical Towcester slog.

The Ben Pauling-trained LINENHALL carries a penalty for his last-time out 2m6f Stratford maiden hurdle success where he made all the running. Alan King’s Good Man Pat, second by a length that day, did the form no harm when going close in a 3m handicap hurdle at Kempton on Monday. This venue couldn’t be more different than Stratford but Linenhall has form on stiff right-handed tracks, having run a three-length third of 15 in a bumper at Exeter back in February. There’s always a chance that front-running Stratford winners were flattered – the track often favours pacier types – but Linenhall’s win was backed up by a good speed figure and he could again be in receipt of a relatively easy lead here.

THE DEVILS DROP, runner-up in an Irish point in the spring, made an encouraging debut under Rules when keeping on into a 12-1 fourth at Chepstow in maiden hurdle company. He finished 15 lengths behind the winner but the time was fast and the 19-length fifth, Colin Tizzard’s Mister Malarky, ran out a 10-1 winner at Kempton on Monday. His trainer has a fine record at Towcester, sending out four winner from eight runners here in 2016 and The Devils Drops is his first course representative this year.

AARON LAD finished second in a pair of Limerick maiden hurdles in the spring and makes his debut for Dr Richard Newland. The Worcestershire handler has a well-deserved reputation for scoring at the first time of asking with his new acquisitions, especially when the money is down..

Linenhall is no slouch but the concession of 6lb to THE DEVILS DROP might prove too much and Alan King’s four-year-old is taken to get off the mark. Aaron Lad is a fascinating rival but, unlike his two main market rivals, he lacks race fitness.

1.10 Towcester Follow Us On Twitter At starspreads_bet Handicap Chase

CLASSIC JEWEL, a winner at Uttoxeter in July on his debut for Evan Williams, has placed in both subsequent outings and currently heads the market. He was keeping on strongly over 3m last time and the drop to this extended 2m5f could count against him, even on this stiff track.

EDWARD ELGAR, forecast to start as the second favourite, might also prove vulnerable. Caroline Bailey’s locally-trained six-year-old has yet to score outside of selling grade and is 0-4 over fences.

The Robin Dickin-trained SOME FINISH, a ten-length runner-up in this race last year, tends to jump out to his right and it’s no coincidence that his three wins have come at right-handed Leicester (twice) and at today’s venue. He ran poorly at Ludlow last time but the return to this stiffer track will suit and the first-time cheekpieces, replacing the usual visor, could eke out some improvement.

At a massive price, THE SOCIETY MAN is no forlorn hope despite being 7lb out of the handicap. Michael Chapman’s veteran has won just once from 80 starts but was far from disgraced when a 100-1 fifth at Huntingdon last time and Alison Clarke takes off 7lb. HIs sole course outing saw him finish a 66-1 fourth on unfavourable terms in novice chase company last month.

Classic Jewel and Edward Elgar make little appeal and last year’s runner-up SOME FINISH is taken to go one better this time.

With vulnerability on the horses at the top of the racecard a Star Spreads sell of the top of the card index might be the order of the day.

I’m selling at 47 on the market based around all the racecard number 1’s that returns 25 pts for winning, 10 pts for finishing second, 5 pts for finishing third.

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RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

SELL TOP OF THE CARD for 15 points at 47 with Star Spreads

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.