7.05 Taunton
Bob's Legend 16/1
If fully fit from his 181 day absence, I really fancy Bob's Legend to win this very poor looking race for Martin Bosley and if he does so comfortably I won't be at all surprised. This 7 year old is a horse I've been waiting a long time to reappear as he was an absolutely massive eye catcher in my books on his last start on handicap debut off a mark of 106 and now that handicapper has been extremely lenient in dropping him back to a mark of 100 I think he has the ability to trounce this field if fully fit. After two runs in bumpers back in 2010 for Linda Jewell, Bob's Legend embarked upon his hurdles career for Martin Bosley in November 2011 in a Class 4 Novice Hurdle at Uttoxeter. I have to say it was an effort that screamed of a lot of promise for all his atrocious jumping. On the back of a 19 month absence from his day with Jewell, this gelding was held up in the rear of the field by Andrew Thornton and for the entire contest his jumping was about as novicey as your ever likely to see - if it transpired that he had never even seen a hurdle before that race it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest as that's how bad his jumping was. Nevertheless (and somewhat amazingly) he remained on the bridle the whole way through the contest as he just kept progressing through the field passing 8 of his 14 rivals as he finished a completely not knocked about 17L beaten 6th. Although that race wasn't very good, to jump that badly yet make what was very good and seemingly effortless headway was rather eye catching and he did really come across as a horse who could have a very good engine. A month later he ran at Fakenham in what has turned out to be a pretty decent maiden and although beaten a long way in 6th, he was again never knocked about in a race where the first 3 home are now rated 134, 126 and 120. Although improved, his jumping still left a lot to be desired as he showed a tendency to jump right handed.
His final start of the 2011/2012 season came in February of last year at Doncaster where Bob's Legend again put in a display of considerable encouragement when a not knocked about 21L beaten 6th in what again looks a very decent Novice contest. After being quite keen and free in the early stages of the contest, Bob's Legend sat a few lengths of the leading group of 8 for most of the contest where he still jumped a little novicey (considerably better than his first two starts over hurdles). In between the 4th and 3rd last flights, he seemed to be getting a little lazy so Andrew Thornton gave him a big whip with the stick - the only time I have seen him touched with the whip in his 4 starts over hurdles - and he responded to it well as he, once again, was not unduly knocked about as he finished a good 6th. The form of that race looks very strong with the winner Oscar Nominee coming out and getting beaten only 2 necks in the Conditional Jockeys handicap at the Cheltenham festival a month later off a mark of 135 whilst the 2nd Victor Leudorom won 4 Novice Hurdles in a row after this and is now rated 132. Additionally, the 3rd home Special Catch easily won his next two starts in Novice Hurdles and is rated 127. Although he may not have troubled these three if asked for everything (could well have), he would have finished a damn sight closer and regardless of this he's now playing a completely different ball game now handicapping off a mark of 100.
In October last year, Bob's Legend made a very eye catching handicap debut a mark of 106 at Ludlow on the back of a 270 day absence and it seemed as clear as day that this was merely a pipe opener for him. On his blog trainer Martin Bosley stated "Bob's Legend has grown into a much stronger horse and mentally much more relaxed" and it certainly seemed to be the case. Settled at the rear of the field, Bob's Legend clearly had a fair bit of schooling over hurdles as he was much tidier over his obstacles.On the long run before the home straight for the final 3 flights, Bob's Legend scythed through the field in effortless fashion as he travelled as well as anything to sit just in behind the leading 4 and it looked as if he was going to play a massive hand in the race. However he was never given any urging to attempt to play a hand in the finish as he came home at his own pace to finish nearly 20L beaten in 6th. Once again, that seems a very good contest with the easy winner the legendary Sporting Boy subsequently annihilating a better race under a 7lb penalty whilst the 2nd Stevie Thunder and 4th Dizzy River have both run up to about the same level of form on their next two starts. In his blog after the race, Martin Bosley stated " He looked amazing, a quality horse in looks and performance - looked like a young footballer having his first game of the season...A super run for an inexperienced horse and looking like a winner in due course". I think its a very accurate summation of the performance and I couldn't agree more about him being a winner in waiting.
With only 4 hurdling efforts under his belt, he's clearly open to considerable improvement (and I expect an awful lot of that). Handicapping was clearly always going to be his game and I think he looks more than capable of defying his current mark of 100 - and this is without me ever seeing the button pushed on him! Connections maintain that he is a horse that need quick ground and with the abysmal weather for most of this season he has been unable to run again and its taken 6 months for him to get his desired ground. If this run wasn't coming on the back of an absence, I would be having a sizeable each way bet as if he wins this comfortably I won't be surprised but the 181 day absence is just niggling at the back of my head. That said, the yard clearly have no problem readying a horse with both their National Hunt winners this season coming on the back of an absence and they could have run him on his unfavoured ground to keep him fit Martin Bosley has his horses in good order with Topthorn (who I expect to comfortably win the proceeding race) successful recently and the good to firm ground should be ideal for Bob's Legend. I don't think connections could have found a much easier race for him to run in as this looks a very poor field despite its size and despite having to shoulder top weight I think he could prove much too good for this lot. With regular partner Andrew Thornton taking the ride, I strongly fancy this unexposed 7 year old in this and he looks a tremendous price at 16/1 (already been nibbled) and if he wins this comfortably I will not be the least bit surprised. I'd definitely advise anyone looking to back him to watch back his last run and as long as my eyes aren't deceiving me I think he's got an excellent chance of winning this race. If he wasn't coming here on the back of an absence, I'd be having a much larger bet but I've still had a decent go as I think Bob's Legend could be absolutely chucked in.
