Sharp Response Looks Good Value in Rehearsal Chase
The Rehearsal Chase looks to be the typically competitive handicap that is usually is, but towards the bottom of the weight Sharp Response could offer punters some value. He made a big impression at Carlisle two starts ago, winning comfortably by nine lengths but wasn’t able to build on that when thrown in at the deep end at Cheltenham last time out.
The seven year old has already had three runs this season, so fitness certainly won’t be an issue with him, which it could be for others. Seven of the 12 runners are having their first run of the season, and with the ground turning soft it is going to be a big ask for those runners on their seasonal reappearance. We don’t have that to worry about with Sharp Response though, he should be fully revved up for this run, his seventh over fences so far in his career.
He won up at Carlisle off a mark of 124, and comes here off a mark of 133 meaning he is nine pounds higher in the weights. That seems a lot, but he looked to be good value for that and more at Carlisle, he won easily, wasn’t pressed and still posted a winning distance of nine lengths.
His run at Cheltenham came in a top qualify Grade Three handicap, so to finish eighth in that kind of race wasn’t such a bad performance for him. He ran off 135 in that race, so has been given a two pound drop in the weights by the handicapper.
A few of these look as though they could be on a winnable mark, but finding one that has guaranteed fitness and looks to be on a winning mark is not easy. Sharp Response ticks both of those boxes and he coule be really good value here to win, with a nice price forecast about him.