GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Check them out below, along with an excellent offer from William Hill of Bet £10 – Get £30 In Free Bets.
ALABLAQ (non-runner, 6f handicap, Lingfield, Saturday, February 12)
The forecast 12-1 about ABABLAQ never materialised and he was a best-priced 15-2 before being declared a non-runner in this 6f Class 5 handicap won by Abduction. I expect his stall 12 of 12 draw was the reason for his non-appearance though the wide route is favoured at Lingfield and the winner came from stall 8. His earlier course and distance fourth to Impeach in a higher grade was a fine effort, as he fared best of those to come from off the pace in a steadily-run contest.
BELLATRIXSA (won, 2m5f mares’ handicap hurdle, Ludlow, Wednesday, February 9)
BELLATRIXSA scored gamely from the front despite racing on the inside of the track where the ground was badly churned up. The Venetia Williams-trained five-year-old now has form figures on right-handed tracks over hurdles of 111 (3-3), as compared to 522 (0-3) when racing left-handed.
BETTER TIMES AHEAD (ninth, 2m4f handicap hurdle, Fairyhouse, Wednesday, February 9)
The inside of the hurdles track was badly cut up but 11-2 shot BETTER TIMES AHEAD. He ran much better than his 21-length handicap debut ninth of 16 suggests and can be followed closely.
Join William Hill and Claim This Bet £10 – Get £30 Sign-up Bonus
BONZA BOY (second, 2m2.5f novices’ hurdle, Exeter, Sunday, February 13)
BONZA BOY had caught the eye when staying on into a 25-1 fourth over 2m here on his hurdles debut and ran a similar race when a 30-length fifth over the extended 2mf at Wincanton next time. The drop to 2m2.5f looked against him here but he kept on well to finishing a modest second at 33-1. He looks a surefire winner when handicapping, ideally right-handed over 2m4f+.
CERTAINLY RED (fourth, 3m handicap chase, Kempton, Friday, February 11)
Hindsight’s a wonderful thing but Kempton didn’t play to the strengths of hold-up performer CERTAINLY RED and my confident bet was misplaced as he came home in an eight-length fourth. The step up to 3m suited but two bad mistakes let the leaders get away from him and he could never strike a meaningful blow. This was only his second chase outing and I’ll be going on a recovery mission when he’s given a stiffer test of stamina.
FIT TO BE TIED (12th, 2m4f handicap hurdle, Fairyhouse, Wednesday, February 9)
FIT TO BE TIED, like the same owner’s Better Times Ahead (see above), took the inside route when down the field in this handicap hurdle. He hasn’t won for some time but his 29-length reverse was better than it looked and he could surprise next time.
GETALEAD (second, 2m4.5f handicap hurdle, Plumpton, Monday, February 14)
It looked softer towards the inside rail and it paid to attack late/wide in this handicap hurdle. The winner, third and fourth came from off the pace, with runner-up GETALEAD catching the eye after racing prominently in the deep stuff.
Join William Hill and Claim This Bet £10 – Get £30 Sign-up Bonus
MIDNIGHT MARY (won, 2m7.5f mares’ handicap hurdle, Fakenham, Wednesday, February 9)
MIDNIGHT MARY was on the slowest part of the track – i.e. towards the inside rail – when scoring over this course and distance on January 17 and did exactly the same thing here, showing a fine attitude to prevail by a neck. Since fitted with a tongue-tie her record reads 131411 (4-6). She tends to hang/jump to the left and is likely to prove best on left-handed tracks.
PONT AVEN (won, 3m hunters’ chase, Ludlow, Wednesday, February 9)
PONT AVEN won impressively despite jumping out to his left in first-time cheekpieces. Both his wins for Willie Mullins came in the spring and he looks Cheltenham festival material.
SWISS PRIDE (sixth, 6f handicap, Lingfield, Saturday, February 12)
We punters tend to talk through our wallets but followers of my GG selection SWISS PRIDE can consider themselves unlucky not to have collected on the 14-1 shot. He was mullered at the start when the horse on his immediate inside ducked right on leaving the stalls and found himself several lengths behind in last place as they rounded the first bend. He flew at the finish to go down by just over one length in sixth and will be winning soon over 6f at Lingfield when given a strong gallop.
.
How To Claim A Bet £10 – Get £30 Bonus
Simply Join William Hill here and make a deposit.
Place a qualifying bet of £10 or more on Horse Racing
Get £30 in Free Bets, on initial bet settlement, as 2 x £15 free bet tokens.
Join William Hill and Claim This Bet £10 – Get £30 Sign-up Bonus
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below.