Originally Posted by
wilsonl
I'm all over Firm Order in the Kempton 3:35 today. Paul Webber wouldn't be particularly high on my list of top trainers but his chasers for the season to-date have finished in the top 2 c. 40% of the time.
On the face of it this looks quiet an open race with only 1.5 points separating six of the nine runners but on closer inspection Open Hearted, Umberto D'Olivante, Salmanzar and Baby Shine all have something to prove over the distance (albeit the latter did win a PTP over this far 5 years ago) and although JP & AP team up with Cantlow, I just can't see today being his day, especially with 11st12 on his back regardless of how well handicapped he may appear to be on his old form. His C&D performance a month ago was pretty woeful to be blunt and part of me also thinks that the trainer has got him in here to a) give him a run out before Cheltenham (when he could be interesting dropped back in trip off his revised mark) but b) to ensure the weights were kept down for Firm Order.
Firm Order, unlike a couple of his opponents won well on his last effort over C&D last season , by an eased down 9L off 115. Subsequently he ran Holywell and the bang in form Victor Hewgo to 3 lengths off a mark which will be 4lb higher than he'll run off today allowing for his claim. He ended the season by finding the festival 4 miler too much and then ran far too keenly on his first outing of this season when beaten into 3rd on ground too quick for him. He followed that up with a nice win at Sandown back on slower ground under today's claimer (only raised 3lb since) before finding only Firebird Flyer too good off the same mark as today with the same claimer on board LTO.
An adjusted rating of 123 gives him an outstanding chance in this IMO and 5/1 looks a great price.