Horse racing betting: Time to follow the Bear now that rain has hit Newbury
What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago we were all preparing for the hottest weekend of the year and the thought of anything other than lightning-fast ground for this Saturday's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (3.55pm) at Newbury was unthinkable.
However, more than 50mm of rain has fallen on the Berkshire track since Tuesday meaning the going description of "good to firm" has been replaced by one that describes the track as "soft, heavy in places".
Henry Candy’s Limato was the ante-post favourite at 3/1, but connections may decide not to run him due to the bad ground.
Toormore finished second to stablemate Night Of Thunder in this race last season and heads most bookmakers' lists this time around.
The five-year-old made a successful reappearance at Sandown last month and has proved himself on most extremes of grounds.
With a race under his belt and no fitness concerns, Richard Hannon’s colt is sure to go very close.
However, I’ve just got a sneaky feeling that he is vulnerable at the highest level and will be taking him on with the Clive Cox-trained KODI BEAR.
The four-year-old missed the start of last season with a bad infection, but made up for lost time by winning emphatically at Salisbury and at Goodwood.
The performance in the Celebration Mile on the latter occasion was breathtaking on a similar rain-softened surface that he’ll encounter this weekend.
He wasn’t disgraced when too keen behind Solow at Ascot back in October and Cox has made no secret that he feels the horse could be the best he has ever trained.
At 9/2 with Betway he looks worthy of support and he can land his first Group One.
Pointers
Kodi Bear 3.55pm Newbury