8.10 Chepstow
Swendab 7/1
I've decided its been long enough since I've put up a winner and this fella is going to break that cold streak. John O'Shea's 5 year old has been kept busy on the all weather over the winter (seems much better on turf) and although he is winless since August 2011 I think he's on a very workable mark of 66. That last win came off a mark of 69 over this C+D and Chepstow seems to be a place where he goes very well as he is 2-2 at the Welsh venue. Looking back to his turf exploits last summer, he was beaten a head off a mark of 72 at Bath last August and was also beaten 1L off that mark with first time blinkers applied - an aid which is back on for the first time since that run. Martin Harley takes the ride and is a very eye catching booking on just his 2nd start for the yard and I'm hoping its significant to Swendab's chances given that he could have partnered Violet Jordan's Decent Fella instead. Although John O'Shea hasn't had a winner on the flat since last July, he has his jumps horses in good form so I'm hoping that can be transferred to the flat. With quick conditions ideal and a good draw in stall 4, I'm not allowing my form to be poor anymore and Swendab is going to be the horse who rectifies that tonight.