Second string far too big if fit and ready after a break

No. 12

3.50 Uttoxeter
1pt win at 16-1 generallyIt's hard to get away from the fact Cobra De Mai is Dan Skelton's No. 1 in this decent handicap chase, but I still don't think second string Sam Red should be as big as 16-1.

The seven-year-old was rated 137 after winning a pair of novice chases last autumn, the first one off a break of 151 days (he's been off 158 now), and the handicapper has been very quick to drop him.

Indeed, when second to Step Back at Fakenham in April he ran to an RPR of 134 but was dropped 7lb for it and while he was beaten 16 lengths, he was giving 12lb to the winner who is now rated 149 after turning the bet365 Gold Cup into a procession on his next start.