1.50 Newbury
Double Dash 4/1
I was waiting a long time for George Baker's charge to return to the track and he did so over tomorrow's C+D at the end of November on the back of a 650 day absence and with that run under his belt I strongly fancy him to land his first win over fences and I am absolutely convinced this 8 year old is going to prove a lot better than his current mark of 109. A bumper winner as a 5 year old, Double Dash is the only horse Baker has trained to go the Cheltenham Festival (Champion Bumper - well beaten) so I think that tells you an awful lot about what Baker thinks of him. After a couple of hurdle runs, Double Dash won on his handicap debut in that sphere off a mark of 110 in fine fashion by 13L and purely based on his hurdling form his chasing mark looks potentially very lenient. However, his first 2 chases read very, very well and he is a horse I will be following all season. After two more runs in handicap hurdles when disappointing, Double Dash made a lovely chasing debut on the back of 6 month absence back in October 2010 when finishing an excellent 1.25L behind Fruity O'Rooney. Fruity O'Rooney, who was also making his chasing debut, is now rated 142 in that sphere so that rates as very strong form. This now 8 year olds 2nd chasing start in November 2010 reads just as well as he finished as staying on 9L beaten 2nd behind the now 142 rated chaser and easy winner Rebel Du Maquis (receiving 7lb) as he finished 10L clear of the 128 rated Lake Legend and a further 16L clear of the 136 rated Anquetta as he beat those rivals off level weights. He had one start after this when disappointing on handicap debut off a mark of 117 but considering that was his last run before his absence then I think something may have been wrong with him. Based on his 2 runs in a Beginners and Novice chase then I think his mark of 109 looks potentially extremely lenient and he could be chucked in by more than a stone.
I've trawled through George Baker's blog archive and they seem to rate him an awful lot but they also mention that he has a lot of quirks (which Baker re-emphasised when I e-mailed him). On the back of his 650 day absence Double Dash made an absolutely lovely reappearance when finishing a 12L beaten 5th at the end of November over tomorrow's C+D with his trainer informing me that he would certainly need the run. Its as clear as day that was the case as Double Dash, who was terribly misbehaved on the way down to the post, travelled very nicely into things before getting tired late on as he finished a very respectable 5th and I certainly don't think you could have asked more from him on his first run in such a long time. That Class 3 event has worked out very nicely with the 2nd Ballywatt going down by a short head on his only subsequent start off a 4lb higher mark whilst the 3rd Drumshambo won on his next start off the same mark eased slightly in grade. George Baker's charge takes an ease in grade as he competes in this Class 4 event and there is no doubt in my mind he is going to come on an awful lot for his most recent run. The handicapper has left his mark at 109 and I will be desperately disappointed if he isn't up to winning off his current mark as I think he has the potential to be a great deal better than it. Trevor Whelan, who was on board for his last start, takes the ride again and takes a very valuable 5lb off his back. With George Baker in very good form at present, I'm quietly confident that Double Dash is going to take a fair amount of beating and I hope this represents the first win in a successful season for this 8 year old.
Double Dash 4/1
I was waiting a long time for George Baker's charge to return to the track and he did so over tomorrow's C+D at the end of November on the back of a 650 day absence and with that run under his belt I strongly fancy him to land his first win over fences and I am absolutely convinced this 8 year old is going to prove a lot better than his current mark of 109. A bumper winner as a 5 year old, Double Dash is the only horse Baker has trained to go the Cheltenham Festival (Champion Bumper - well beaten) so I think that tells you an awful lot about what Baker thinks of him. After a couple of hurdle runs, Double Dash won on his handicap debut in that sphere off a mark of 110 in fine fashion by 13L and purely based on his hurdling form his chasing mark looks potentially very lenient. However, his first 2 chases read very, very well and he is a horse I will be following all season. After two more runs in handicap hurdles when disappointing, Double Dash made a lovely chasing debut on the back of 6 month absence back in October 2010 when finishing an excellent 1.25L behind Fruity O'Rooney. Fruity O'Rooney, who was also making his chasing debut, is now rated 142 in that sphere so that rates as very strong form. This now 8 year olds 2nd chasing start in November 2010 reads just as well as he finished as staying on 9L beaten 2nd behind the now 142 rated chaser and easy winner Rebel Du Maquis (receiving 7lb) as he finished 10L clear of the 128 rated Lake Legend and a further 16L clear of the 136 rated Anquetta as he beat those rivals off level weights. He had one start after this when disappointing on handicap debut off a mark of 117 but considering that was his last run before his absence then I think something may have been wrong with him. Based on his 2 runs in a Beginners and Novice chase then I think his mark of 109 looks potentially extremely lenient and he could be chucked in by more than a stone.
I've trawled through George Baker's blog archive and they seem to rate him an awful lot but they also mention that he has a lot of quirks (which Baker re-emphasised when I e-mailed him). On the back of his 650 day absence Double Dash made an absolutely lovely reappearance when finishing a 12L beaten 5th at the end of November over tomorrow's C+D with his trainer informing me that he would certainly need the run. Its as clear as day that was the case as Double Dash, who was terribly misbehaved on the way down to the post, travelled very nicely into things before getting tired late on as he finished a very respectable 5th and I certainly don't think you could have asked more from him on his first run in such a long time. That Class 3 event has worked out very nicely with the 2nd Ballywatt going down by a short head on his only subsequent start off a 4lb higher mark whilst the 3rd Drumshambo won on his next start off the same mark eased slightly in grade. George Baker's charge takes an ease in grade as he competes in this Class 4 event and there is no doubt in my mind he is going to come on an awful lot for his most recent run. The handicapper has left his mark at 109 and I will be desperately disappointed if he isn't up to winning off his current mark as I think he has the potential to be a great deal better than it. Trevor Whelan, who was on board for his last start, takes the ride again and takes a very valuable 5lb off his back. With George Baker in very good form at present, I'm quietly confident that Double Dash is going to take a fair amount of beating and I hope this represents the first win in a successful season for this 8 year old.
