Salisbury each-way tip: Gunmetal shaping up to rekindle former glories

 

18:05 Salisbury: S&H Jones Wines and Champagnes Handicap (6 furlongs) 

A smart performer in his youth, Gunmetal reached a postmark high of 109 and won seven races, of which half a dozen were over today’s six-furlong trip.

He moved about a bit after his peak and is currently owned by Frank Bishop who also tried his arm at training (albeit with little success).

The 10-year-old has been moved this year to Brett Johnson who is a hard-working trainer of modest horses and does well in placing them, hitting a 9% strike rate.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if On Edge wins by more than 1 length, get a £5 Free Bet!

Gunmetal has so far run twice for Johnson and has improved with each outing, which suggested he had perhaps been allowed to completely lose his fitness.

Those two runs were in July, and on soft ground that he would have hated, while his return to better ground in mid-August saw him postmark a reasonable 51 off a mark of 62.

That last run suggests his form and fitness is coming along and if he builds on that run today then he has a chance, especially considering he is almost 50 pounds lower in the handicap than in his heyday (57).

Finley Marsh has been firing in the winners consistently and has an 11% strike rate, so is a fair booking for the yard.

Gunmetal has also won over course and distance (on his only start at the track), and he gets his favoured good to firm ground for the first time in a couple of years.

He was an irresistible 33/1 at the time the tip was published, which looks tasty in this 8-runner field and that value holds even if that price halves.

Suggested bet: Gunmetal each-way in the 18:05 at Salisbury

• Tip advised by Won Racing Tip on Tipstrr