Richard Johnson rode a four-timer at Warwick on Wednesday and Ian Ogg hopes he could be back among the winners today.
1pt win Big Meadow, 3.15 Chepstow at 6/4
Given that Trevor Whelan has ridden 122 of Neil King's runners this season and that the next 'most used' jockey is Mark Grant with five, it's a little off-putting that Whelan is at Ludlow.
It did make me look more closely at his four rides but perhaps the Champion Jockey Richard Johnson can improve on his record of a third and a fourth from three rides for King who saw Lil Rockerfeller go so close to claiming a famous victory last week.
Big Meadow, who is a Sky Bet Price Boost, is one of just two rides for Johnson at Chepstow with the other being Rules debutant Minellatillmorning for Neil Mulholland; it will be interesting to see how he fares in the bumper given his point form ties in with the promising Benatar but the market is all about Warthog, just as was ahead of his intended debut a week or so back.
Big Meadow won his point on heavy ground before beating the useful Geordie Des Champs in his bumper at this track and then finishing second to the exciting Mr Big Shot who represents the same connections as Warthog coincidentally.
He shaped adequately in two runs in novice hurdles before stepping up significantly when going close on his handicap debut over two and a half miles, earning a 6lb rise.
He retains scope for further improvement and neither the step back up in trip nor testing ground should hold any fears for him and he has solid claims of justifying favouritism in the Triflex Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
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Posted 0826 GMT on 23/03/2017
