Gaspara has been a major disappoitnment this season, but there is no doubting she is unbelievably well handicapped and at 7-1 she could be worth one last chance in the 3.35 at Wincanton today.
David Pipe's seven-year-old mare was once rated 152 over hurdles, and now races off her lowest ever mark of 112.
She finished a cracking fifth behind Willie Mullins' Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at last year's Festival off a mark of 140, and would simply destroy these off a 28lb lower mark if her trainer can spark some life back into her.
However that is a big "if" as she has been running deplorably of late and shown little interest in getting competitive. But that may well be down to the fcat that she has been ridden with restraint and held up in her races.
All of her best runs have come when forcing the pace, and a change in tactics is surely on the cards today.
If she is allowed to bowl along at the head of affairs we could finally see a return to form.
I put her up two weeks ago when she was a 14-1 shot for a race at Fontwell, but she was pulled out after being backed down into 4s. It's interesting that she has again been backed in from 9s, and connections clearly feel that she is up to winning another race sooner rather than later.
Let's hope today's the day!
Recommended bet: 3pts each-way Gaspara (7-1 Sportingbet)
