6:45 – Leicester – FOSTERS SUPER CHILLED SELLING STAKES (CLASS 6) (3yo) Good 7f9y
In a race which looks like the last chance saloon for a number of runners the only horse which comes into the race with a recent win and anything like consistent form is Marius. The 3 year old gelding has had 10 career starts and has won once and been placed four times. His win came on the all weather surface at Wolverhampton two starts back, but he followed that up at Folkestone last week with a decent 2nd place on the turf.
Marinus made his racecourse debut in January and finished unplaced on his first four runs. However, since he finished 2nd in a Class 6 Handicap at Kempton on 01 May, he has only finished out of the places once in 6 starts and has by far the most consistent profile in this evening’s race.
The going at Leicester is Good and as Maruis has place form on Good to Firm and Good to Soft ground the underfoot conditions should not inconvenience him tonight. He runs over 7 furlongs and in three runs over the trip, he has finished 2nd on each occasion.
Marinus carries top weight for the race but has the assistance of Lee Newnes in the saddle who claims 5lbs which means that the horse runs off a weight of 8st-12lbs putting him on a par with his main danger Crown Dependency. The Richard Hannon trained gelding has been running at a much higher level and was 3rd in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last year but he comes into this race in very poor form beaten by 20 lengths in a Class 5 Handicap on his last start and does not appear to be in love with the game.
The good news is that because Crown Dependency is in the race the price of Marinus should hold up and at his current price of 5/1 can even be backed each way. Selling races are littered with loosing short priced favourites dropping down markedly in class and until he proves otherwise Crown Dependency is best swerved. Marinus may not have won on the turf or over the trip yet but at least he brings some decent form into the race and more importantly he puts in his best effort when he runs and appears to enjoy his racing.
