Shooting Times favourite for the Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle
Andrew Parker’s trainee, Shooting Times, is the favourite for the Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle (for the James Barclay Challenge Trophy) at Ayr in England on Friday, March 9, 2012. The winning horse will be awarded with cash prize of £2,534.
The class-4 event, scheduled to start at 4:30 GMT, will test nine runners over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlong and 110 yards. The going is expected to be heavy and the entries confirmed for the event are: Shooting Times, Old Magic, Leith Walk, Porridge,
Rawaaj, Malin Bay, Dundock, Briscoe Place and Dar Es Salaam.
Out of these runners, Shooting Times has won the favour of the bookmakers because of his recent form. He managed to win at Ayr in his most recent outing on Tuesday, January 17, this year.
Despite not being the favourite to win that event, Shooting Times performed exceptionally well. He had been given a starting price of 25 to 1 back then, but surprised one and all with his quality.
The conditions were a bit different on that occasion, but the seven-year-old gelding performed exceptionally well, winning the race by one length. His trainer will be expecting him to repeat such a performance yet another time.
Overall, Shooting Times has participated in eight hurdles, winning a couple of them. He does not have a very good strike rate, but the punters will be interested in placing some bets over his victory.
The favourite runner will be partnered by Robert McCarth, who has earned just six victories over hurdles in his career until now. He will be looking forward to make a solid impression at Ayr today.
Other than Parker’s trainee, Old Magic has also been given decent odds for winning the race. He has shown some decent form recently, but has never won a race over hurdles. He has taken part in 19 of such events, but the best e could manage was a runner up
position.
The seven-year-old gelding, trained by Sophie Leech, will be partnered by Dougie Costello, who has won 109 hurdles in his career and has a decent strike rate.
It appears that Shooting Times will easily win this one, but he will need a clear run in order to do so.
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