GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Check out his selection below, alongside an exclusive SBK offer that provides money back in cash up to £20.
ALLARDYCE (sixth, 3m1f handicap chase, Hereford, Sunday, February 27)
ALLARDYCE jumped out to his left on the right-handed track and his modest sixth is easy to forgive. He finished a 12-1 second at Warwick when last racing left-handed and he’ll be of interest when returned to such a venue.
APPLE ROCK (third, 2m3.5f handicap hurdle, Hereford, Sunday, February 27)
APPLE ROCK needs a big field/strong pace scenario and retuned to form with a 12-1 third of 11, doing best of the closers in a handicap hurdle run to suit prominent types. He’s now 8lb lower than when catching the eye in the ‘swamp’ round the inside at Leicester in early December and Ben Pauling’s eight-year-old, whose wins have come in fields of 19, 15 and 12 runners on right-handed tracks, looks to have more races in him.
BRINKLEY (third, 2m7.5f handicap hurdle, Chepstow, Saturday, February 26)
Since fitted with cheekpieces, BRINKLEY’s record right-handed reads 111 (3-3) but he missed what looked a good opportunity in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot a couple of Saturdays ago. He was near the head of the betting at the five-day stage for that contest but didn’t run, instead reverting to hurdles on a left-handed track. He ran with credit, finishing third despite jumping poorly and out to his right. He has three entries at Cheltenham but looks in need of a change of direction.
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ENNISKERRY (eighth, 2m4f handicap hurdle, Fairyhouse, Saturday, February 26)
Good-ground horse ENNISKERRY, off the track since finishing second at the Galway Festival last summer, was a big late drifter and backers soon knew their fate when this previously habitual front-runner was ridden with restraint. He took a keen hold as a result and finished in mid-division, just eight lengths behind the winner. He’s going to be a major player this spring when getting his ground.
HALCYON DAYS (unseated, 2m handicap chase, Carlisle, Monday, February 28)
Having secured 8-1 about HALCYON DAYS on the return to his beloved Carlisle it was extra gutting to see the 9-2 shot blunder and unseat at the first fence. His course record now reads 11161U (4-6) and he has an excellent record at this time of year. Hopefully, all is well after this mishap and he’ll bid to gain compensation in the next few weeks.
HAPPY HOLLOW (fourth, 2m3f conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle, Monday, February 28)
The pace held up in Carlisle’s opener on Monday, with the first three home described by the Racing Post as ‘tracked leaders’, ‘disputed lead, tracked leaders when headed after 2nd’ and ‘disputed lead, led clearly 3 out’. HAPPY HOLLOW fared best of those to come from off the pace in a 12-1 fourth and will be of interest next time. Three of his four wins have come in late February/March, the other in May, and there are more races in him this spring.
MADE FOR YOU (fifth, 2m3f conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle, Monday, February 28)
MADE FOR YOU fared second best of the closers in the same race as Happy Hollow (see above) and also caught the eye at Leicester on his penultimate start where he finished second despite racing on the slowest part of the track. His record in handicap hurdles on right-handed tracks reads 1111225 (4-7).
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PHOENIX AQUILUS (second, 2m handicap, Lingfield, Saturday, February 26)
Stall 1 can be tricky even over this trip and hold-up performer PHOENIX AQUILUS was plenty far enough back when the pace quickened. Switched wide to challenge, he found only Aljaryal three-quarters of a length too good after the winner got first run. The pair pulled well clear of the third and they could take each other on again over the same course and distance in the 4.54 race this Saturday.
THE GANGES (third, 8.6f maiden, Wolverhampton, Saturday, February 26)
THE GANGES, runner-up over 7f at Newcastle in January on his sole start for Kevin Philippart De Foy, made an encouraging debut for Simon Hodgson over a longer trip. He made ground on the inside rail into a modest third and will be of particular interest when handicapping.
THE RETRIEVER (sixth, 7f handicap, Southwell, Thursday, February 26)
Micky Hammond’s seven-year-old showed good early speed but helped to set the race up for the closers. He did well to hold on for sixth place, doing second best of those to race on the front end, and can be supported next time.
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