Timeform Ratings expert Adam Blencowe has Contributer on top of his 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes tips and he is expecting the imported galloper to produce an impressive performance in the Group 1 event at Warwick Farm tomorrow.
Racing and Sports Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe believes that Contributer is the horse to beat in the 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Contributer stamped himself as a horse to watch when he made his Australian racing debut with a win in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 18 last year, but he produced an even more impressive performance in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.
The High Chaparral entire will face a similar field in the Chipping Norton Stakes this weekend and Blencowe told RSN that he feels that the five-year-old should be available at even money Chipping Norton Stakes odds.
“Most of these come off the same lead-up here and that is the Apollo Stakes won by Contributer in fairly dominant fashion,” Blencowe said.
“He ran to a Timeform rating of 121 with a P and if we look at the history of this race the Apollo is its key lead-up.
“Plenty of the winners come through that and the winners of the Chipping Norton have historically run to about 115, so he is already a couple of lengths to the good.
“I think that he has a really good edge on them and we are really excited to see what he can do from here.
“I think that we can expect him to go into the mid-120s this prep.
“I have the favourite marked odds-on.
“A race like this is a good chance for him to show us how good he is.”
Blencowe believes that Lucia Valentina deserves to be on the second line of 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes betting markets, but admits that he is worried about the four-year-olds second-up record, while he thinks that it is tough to see Apollo Stakes placegetters Ninth Legion and Weary turning-the-tables on Contributer when they step up to a mile tomorrow.
“Lucia Valentina is the main danger, but her second-up record suggests that she doesn’t really come on from that first-up run and she is probably going to be better again next time.
“Hartnell is a horse that really shouldn’t be getting hot over a mile here, but he has trialed up quite nicely and he is an interesting horse having his first run here in Australia.”
Contributer is currently available at 2015 Chipping Norton Stakes odds of $2.70 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Lucia Valentina ($5), Ninth Legion ($9), Weary ($10), Silent Achiever ($11).
