2.50 Huntingdon
Porters War 7/1 NB
I think Porters War could strike at the first time of asking for Jeremy Scott who looks on a good mark when weighing up his previous form. This 10 year old gelding is is very lightly raced under rules for his age with only 16 starts to date and this will be his first run in this sphere for almost two years (he did have a run in a point in June where he was apparently beaten a long way). Formerly trained by Alan King, he was a decent enough chaser and was rated 120 at his peak with his last win coming off a mark of 113 over this distance back in April 2009. He's now fallen a long way in the weights to a mark of 99 and if Jeremy Scott has revitalised him then I think he should be more than capable of scoring off his current mark. Scott has proved adept at rejuvenating horses after a break from other trainers as can be seen by Quaddick Lake winning on stable debut after a 14 month break earlier this year so that has to go down as a big plus when weighing up Porters War's chances. Huntingdon has been a happy hunting ground for the stable for this former farmer with the yard having a tremendous 6-8 record at the track (1-2 chasing, 5-6 hurdling[scary stat given he has an unexposed horse running in The Last Night's race!]) so I think its quite significant that Porters War has his first start for the yard here. If his June Point to Point has blown away his cobwebs, I think Porters War looks primed for a big showing for a stable whose last runner was successful last week.
6.50 Wolves
Chiswick Bey 8/1
If discounting his last poor run, I think this 4 year old gelding looks to have an excellent chance on his all weather and stable debut for Ollie Pears. Chiswick Bey started out his life with Richard Fahey and looked a pretty good 2 year old competing in a Group 2 on third start, winning a handicap debut off a mark of 85 and ending the year rated a career high 93. He only managed 2 starts in his 3 year old campaign but did put in an excellent 2nd in a Class 2 handicap off a mark of 90 that year in a race whose form has worked out quite nicely. This year he looked extremely regressive for Fahey as his handicap mark fell from 90 to 79 after a string of poor efforts (all over 7/8f on soft ground) which saw him leave to join Peter Salmon's yard in August of this year. The change in scenery coupled, the step back in trip and better ground worked the absolute oracle for this 4 year old as he landed a nice old punt when supported from a double figure price into joint favouritism when making all to score over 6f at Haydock in August by 0.75L. He was always holding his rivals that day and that race has seen all of the 8 horses in behind win subsequently (only the last home Baron's Spy won NTO). The 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 8th have come out and won off the same or higher marks within a few starts whilst the rest of the field have won in the interim period off 1lb-5lb lower marks. Its the first time I've ever seen this when analysing a horse and it definitely a good sign, especially as it was only 3 months ago. Raised 4lb to a mark of 83, Chiswick Bey was sent off favourite over that same C+D but he put in a bit of a shocker where he didn't get to the front but I'm willing to overlook that effort, especially considering he has moved a new stable. Ollie Pears is a trainer I've a lot of time for and I think he's picked up a recruit that is on a good mark of 83 and given that Chiswick Bey won with a change of scenery I'm hoping history can repeat itself. Ollie Pears's horses are running well enough at present and Jacob Butterfield, who has a 21% strike rate for the yard, takes off a very useful 7lb. With the plum draw in stall 1, I envisage instructions will be to attempt to make all and if getting to the front then I believe Chiswick Bey could prove difficult to pass and hopefully he'll resume winning ways off a mark I definitely think he can exploit.