Stat of the Day, 16th September 2012

Stat of the Day

Stat of the Day, 16th September 2012

Back to the winners’ enclosure yesterday, and at a nice price (6/1 advised, returned 4/1), shows we’re enjoying a fine run of things just now. As such, and because I couldn’t find anything better to go at, I’m hovering over the ‘randomiser’ button yet again! (Yes, I do love that button – it’s the way punting should be…)

We’re off to the September Festival in Ireland, and specifically the…

4.20 Listowel

A big field beginners’ chase is not an obvious contender for Stat of the Day nomination but, as ever, there are reasons for optimism associated with this afternoon’s pick.

First up, trainer Thomas Cooper loves a winner at the Listowel Festival. His record at the track in total is six winners from 25 runners. In September (i.e. the Festival), he’s five winners from seventeen runners, and another two places, for a profit of 6.73 points.

Cooper has a single entry today, and it’s a horse with a chance, albeit not the most obvious chance. The Shepherd King was a pretty good hurdler – rated 126 when fourth in a Grade 1 behind Zaidpour two years ago.

Since then, he’s been very lightly raced, and has only had one run since March 2011. That run was two weeks ago, and he would be sure to have needed it.

But he’s a course winner, bagging a bumper back in 2010; and had previously won a point-to-point, meaning this chase début comes with good reason to believe The Shepherd King will jump the fences. Since the bumper win, he’s won a hurdle race too, so just needs the chase win for the set.

As is often the case in such races, there’s more depth than strength and, with much dead wood, 16/1 each way is the way I’ve wagered.

Click here for the latest odds on the 4.20 Listowel.