Placepot Pointers: Chil Chil rates banker material to keep up good work at Salisbury

It was less than a month ago that the Tote Placepot paid a whopping £1,926 to a £1 stake at Salisbury. And as we head into one of the course’s feature meetings of the season, we’re having another crack at everyone’s favourite-six leg bet.

Here’s what you need to know about Thursday’s Salisbury Placepot.

It’s good ground all round at Salisbury, with dry weather expected meaning it’s only going to get quicker underfoot before the gates open ahead of the first race of the day at 1pm.

He’s Champion Jockey for a reason, but even more than normal, Oisin Murphy really is different gravy at Salisbury. In the last three seasons, he boasts a 36% strike-rate at the Wiltshire track, finishing in the places on 44 of his 56 rides (79%) in that period.

Murphy rides four horses within today’s Placepot; including the debutant pair of MAHOMES (Leg 3 - 2:10) - a first foal of multiple Group 1 winner The Fugue - and CLIP (Leg 4 - 2:40), and favourite for the feature race of the day, TIME SCALE, who looks well fancied to land the Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies Stakes.

The final Placepot ride for Murphy today is the recent Ascot winner CHIL CHIL (Leg 6 3:40) who could be in a good place to follow up that success.

Andrew Balding’s charge put in a much improved effort in Berkshire that day, continuing the progression shown in previous outings.

The form of the race looks strong with the two horses to run since going well (finishing third in a Listed contest, and going close in a Glorious Goodwood handicap), and although a 9lb hike in the weights isn’t ideal the Exceed And Excel filly doesn’t look like she’s finished improving.

In the opening race of the day, RAGSTONE VIEW (Leg 1 - 1:00) is worth giving another chance for Placepot purposes. While his best finish this term has been a well-beaten fourth over 7f at Salisbury at the start of August, he is beginning to look well-handicapped.

The four-year-old appears to be better with faster underfoot conditions, so while the ground was only good to soft when fifth here last time out, the drier ground this time out will help. A winner and runner-up off a 4lb higher mark just last season, a return to anything like that form could see him sneak into the frame here at potentially double-figure odds.

The handicap newcomers Blackcurantspangle and Win Win Power are likely to be popular based on the potential shown in their novice events in Leg 2 (1:35). They may well strike off their opening marks,but until they deliver they may just be worth taking on in the Placepot.

A return to a mile might be just the ticket for course and distance winner BIOTIC. Rod Millman’s charge put up his best performance of the season when a good second, ahead of a subsequent winner over a mile at Chepstow two starts back, and can make his mark off the same mark here. The consistent AIR OF YORK also goes into our Placepot, having been competitive in three subsequent races after winning on his return at Bath. He may be handicapped out of winning, but he could certainly hit the frame.

Leg 1: 3,9

Leg 2: 2,8

Leg 3: 5,7

Leg 4: 2,10

Leg 5: 5,14

Leg 6: 2

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 32 lines