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De Name Escapes Me may be the danger to Clyne

February 11th, 2017 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News

The only thing that ever irritates me when writing a piece like this is rubbish prices and I have to say the odds about Pretend and Soldier In Action last week were simply ridiculous. Up against previous winners on his debut, Soldier In Action was sent off at 5/2 purely on Nicky Henderson’s reputation, which is no way to approach horseracing.

Pretend was up against some of the toughest, most reliable AW sprinters of the past few years at Lingfield yet started at 4/5. Complete madness, and all too typical of Saturdays, when bookmakers are alive to every possible opportunity of trading at cramped odds.

I think this weekend comes down purely to the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the class act is clearly Clyne following his good run against The New One at Haydock. Mind you, he was getting weight and trying to equate conditions race form with what might be required in a top handicap is never easy. It’s a smaller field than usual but they pay on the first four if all 16 stand their ground and I think, after a three-week break, CLYNE comes across as the each-way choice.

I like a saver in the race and Noel Meade’s DE NAME ESCAPES ME fits the bill. A very good novice, he was returning after a long absence when tenth at Punchestown where his finishing position fails to do justice to a very fair effort. He was still in with some sort of chance two from home and the race will have brought him on. Also, he may well be helped by dropping back to two miles from two and a half.

This will be a very quiet weekend on the punting front otherwise and punters should be careful at the two Midlands jumps meetings, where the ground will be very testing if inspections are passed.

Ian Signature