Thursday’s Race of the Day: We preview the Swineford Handicap at Bath
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There’s action from Catterick, Wolverhampton, Sligo and Bellewstown on Thursday, but our Race of the Day comes from Bath, where nine runners are set to line up in the Swineford Handicap at 15:40.
Real Estate and Union Rose lead the way at the top of the betting, with the former given the edge by our traders following a heap of consistent efforts dating all the way back to December.
Michael Attwater’s inmate landed a double at Lingfield towards the end of last year and has subsequently been narrowly touched off on three occasions, including when third over course and distance 10 days ago.
He hung left slightly that day, but with the yard in decent nick at present, there’s every chance the five-year-old can correct that fault and recapture the winning thread over 5½f.
His biggest threat looks to be Union Rose, who finished over a length ahead of the jolly at odds of 33/1 here a week ago and is 3lb well in with a penalty to come in his next race after this.
The veteran has won four times around Bath all told and will be in the mix again, although he may find placings reversed with Real Estate if the favourite gets the benefit of a clear run this time around.
May Remain is next in the betting but is without a win on turf since 2017 and has more recently been found on the all-weather, landing a 12-runner contest at Dundalk in January.
The five-year-old has switched to George Baker since then, twice hitting the frame at Kempton. Question marks remain over his ability to act on a natural surface, while he also has to shoulder a 2lb rise here too.
On that evidence, he can probably be discounted, and it could be wise to do similar to follow the same path with Michaels Choice, who can put up a decent performance on his day but often struggles first time out.
More Than Likely, Moonraker and Venture are three more who’ll need to find more here, although Show Me The Bubbly may be capable of better than his eighth-place finish here a fortnight ago.
John O’Shea’s (no, not that one) hopeful has won once in 13 starts but should strip fitter for that comeback run in which the only horse he beat home was Union Rose. Gavin Ashton provides a valuable 7lb claim.
Boom The Groom, who previously mixed it in very decent Handicap company but is now more commonly found on the all-weather, completes the line-up for Tony Carroll and Tom Marquand.
The pair have combined 12 times in the last fortnight, returning three wins and two placed efforts. Boom The Groom hasn’t won on turf in four years, but he’s consistent, likes the conditions and offers each-way value.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
