Redcar preview: Champagne Bob has a vintage chance

David Metcalf | November 3, 2015

Champagne Bob scored in runaway style last time out and can make light of a penalty to follow-up in the 7f handicap on today’s card at Redcar (13.30).

The Richard Price trained gelding has shown much improved form of late, winning two of his last three starts.

In the last of those at Leicester eight days ago, Champagne Bob travelled strongly throughout before taking up the running inside the last and storming clear to win by five lengths off a mark of 61.

It was an effort which suggested the three-year-old was in the form of his life, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a 6lb penalty as the son of Big Bad Bob is due to race off 9lb higher in future assignments.

That means Champagne Bob is 3lb well-in at the weights, and his current mark of 67 should certainly not be beyond him given that he was rated as high as 75 earlier in the year.

With underfoot conditions idea, and promising claimer Patrick Piley in the saddle taking another 5lb of Champagne Bob’s back with his claim, this looks a golden opportunity for him to go in again.

Breezolini to make sea change

In the 6f handicap (16.00), Irish raider Breezolini is a fascinating contender having dropped to a career-low mark.

The mare is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a 5f contest on testing ground at Haydock back in July 2012 off a mark of 72 when trained in the UK by Geoff Harker.