Please see my one tip for Thursday’s racing:
Strong Team – 7.50 Sedgefield – 2m 1F Handicap Hurdle – 33/1 Bet365 – 1 Point Each Way.
The 8 year old Strong Team is a winner of two hurdle races over 2 miles off marks off 88 and 98.
Back in 2018 he ran in this race, going off favourite from a mark of 97 and finishing a close 2nd. Today he runs off just 79.
His regression was sparked by an unfortunate injured in 2019 and was off for a year and a half, probably with a tendon issue. He has been on a recovery mission ever since.
On his return in late 2020, he was brought a long slowly in 5 hurdle races. Strong Team only started to show some form on his 6th start (February 2021) in an all-weather national hunt flat race.
He was later transferred onto the flat for 6 further runs and then back for three runs over hurdles. His best hurdle run was at Sedgefield over todays trip where he raced wide throughout and stayed on without threatening to finish a close 5th.
On his next two starts he was settled well off the pace in last and didn’t look happy, running in snatches and never threatened.
Strong Team looks interesting today now he is back at Sedgefield where he generally runs well and more particularly in this race where he has unfinished business.
With him running off such a reduced mark and connections now reaching for a first time visor which will help wake up Strong Team and help him focus I can see a big run on the cards.
He is currently sitting in the market at 33/1 with Bet365 which is massive for a horse with his profile, and I therefore recommend 1 point each way.
He still looks value at 16/1.