Penworthy

How a Spectator Life reader put me on to a 20-1 shot for a Festival handicap

  • From Spectator Life
Nassalam at Fontwell Park in December 2020 [Getty Images]

One of the nicest parts about writing this weekly column for Spectator Life is the informed comments that greet it each week from readers. I am thinking specifically about people such as ‘Simian Leer’, ‘Oswald Grimes’ and ‘Simon’. This week my thanks go to ‘Simian’, who in late December highlighted the chances of NASSALAM in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase.

Nassalam finished a staying-on third that day and ‘Simian’ later posted a second comment asking whether the Ultima Handicap Chase might be a good Festival target for Gary Moore’s six-year-old gelding. The astute reader seemed convinced a step up in trip to more than three miles would suit the horse.

As Nassalam prefers cut in the ground, the horse will also benefit from any guaranteed watering – if necessary –  to ensure the ground is ‘good to soft’ on the opening day. If the heavens open before day one of the Festival, all the better.

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