A massive field of 33 go to post today for the bet365 Cambridgeshire (3.40) at Newmarket and BERINGER and KORCHO are the value pair to concentrate on. Beringer showed a real liking for this track earlier in the season, and as a LIncoln third handling big fields are not an issue.
In April Alan King's charge held off a late surge from Prince Of Darkness over a mile on fast ground at this track.That was off a mark of of just a pound lower of 96, and a repeat of that kind of form would put him right in the mix today. Bedouin's Story, who reopposes today and is well fancied, was back in sixth on that occasion and has since won in style on soft ground at York.
Overall the form of the race has worked out very well with Prince Of Darkness scoring twice since and is now 9 lbs. higher in the ratings. Beringer hated the soft ground when disappointing at Royal Ascot, but he has also turned in some cracking efforts since, not least when second to Jazeel at Sandown when beaten just a short head. Jazeel had a 6 lbs. pull that day, but they meet on level terms today.
At Goodwood Beringer finished behind Jazeel and winner Fayez but he met traffic problems in running and did well to finish a close fifth. A strongly run nine furlongs handicap on a straight course looks the perfect recipe. Alan King has booked 5 lbs. claimer Thore Hammer Hansen which in effect leaves him running off a mark of 92. Drawn in the middle in 15 the jockey can decide to follow whichever side he likes and they look sure to be in the shake-up.
Korcho was an amazing 50/1 yesterday morning but unfortunately we'll have to trade a bit lower now. Hughie Morrison's runner remains decent value though , particularly compared to Majestic Missile whom he finished ahead of at the July meeting in a valuable handicap won by Walkinthesand.
Korcho is a three year old and has been freshened up for this when running an eye catching sixth to Forrest Of Dean - who went on to score again at the York Ebor meeting - at Goodwood. With Ryan Moore on Morrison's other runner Le Don De Vie - who has won three of his last four - Korcho slips in here a little under the radar though clearly not to those who snapped up the 50/1 yesterday!
Yet he has been running well all season with his best effort being at Newmarket in July when beaten a head by Walkinthesand off a 1 lb. lower mark. Nicola Currie is in the plate on this proven Newmarket performer who makes big appeal with just 8 - 3 on his back. Obviously in a race like this there are plenty with chances and Roger Varian's Fifth Position ran well in a classy race at Goodwood though this is a tough contest for a first attempt in a handicap.
The value has well gone on Good Birthday who is not straight forward but did well to squeeze through to win a valuable Beverley contest where Ben Curtis, who was on board for the first time, did particularly well. Oisin Murphy gets the leg up this time which is hardly a negative. Majestic Dawn, Lord North and the afore mentioned Jazeel are others well worth a second glance. But Beringer and Korcho must be supported in a contest where some firms are paying out on the first six or seven places.
Newmarket 15:40
1/2 Point Each Way Beringer (20/1 Skybet paying 8 places)
1/2 Point Each Way Korcho (22/1 Coral or Ladbrokes both paying 7 places)
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