1:25 – Barton Knoll 14/1 E/W (16s available with Bet365)
This is a competitive race and you can make a fair case for most, but Barton Knoll looks overpriced to me considering he ran far better last time out than his finishing position suggests.
Sent off a 20/1 shot, he jumped well on the front end and was still bang there as he jumped the second last upsides the eventual winner, Morning Vicar, and traded at even money in running. He faded quickly thereafter, losing 5 places after the last. His trainer later reported that “he took a blow running down to the last fence” and that “he should be sharper next time”.
Of those that finished in the first 6, only one didn’t have a recent run under their belts and most arrived in very good form. As such, you can mark up the effort of Barton Knoll.
Barton Knoll is a course and distance winner; he won second time out back in 2018 at Doncaster in a novice chase. The good ground will also be ideal for him.
John Mackie has only had 6 runners since Barton Knoll ran 3 weeks ago, recording form figures of: 213303. The trainer has a good record at the track, with a 24% S/R in handicap chases here (+£47.93 to a £1 stake to BFSP, A/E 1.93)
Sean Quinlan, who has been in great form, takes the ride. He was on board for Barton Knoll’s last win; an emphatic 11 length win over this trip at Haydock on good ground off just a 4lb lower mark than he races off today.
With only 9 runners, Barton Knoll looks a solid E/W prospect.
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