Emotional Memories 5.40 Font Just scrapes in at 22-1 from some 33s last night (bit of 25 on 365 still)
EM showed his first real form when running close in a Utt two-and-a-half maiden at 50-1 (up in the 100s BF) last Sept. Threw it away that day with one or two tardy jumps just at the wrong time. Nearest finish and was motoring enough at the line to have me trying to remember how much was on BF 10 strides out.
Has since proved he stays further with a couple of soft ground hurdle runs at just short of 3 miles. This 3m2 on good ground should be within range, with an arguable question mark.
One of those runs she gave weight to a Dan Skelton horse on a 4-timer (who's won a Class 3 since) and led the 4-runner field there a merry dance till not quite being able to go with two of them from the last.
Seems to run well fresh and has had a small break for this hurdle after an abortive attempt chasing lto. May be significant that DJJ has had him entered left right and centre for races over the last few weeks (so many in fact I've lost count). There could be several reasons for that, ofc. One take might be he was waiting for (what he saw as) a winnable race. Equally, he might have taken a knock or he could have been waiting for good ground.
Has bled twice now - the chase and an earlier heavy ground hurdles run. Would be guesswork, but limited evidence says he's a 'fresh' runner. Might only be able to handle racing and perform well after a 5 or 6 week break plus.
Sadly, I can't rule out any of the other 4 runners. They all might have enough ability to win this. Equally I can make debatable cases why they won't. The yard have always liked EM and there's enough evidence of good runs to suggest he can make them all work for it. 22s or 25s is OK in context. Hopefully there'll be a drift later.
