GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Check out his featured runners below, alongside an exclusive SBK offer that provides money back in cash up to £40.
DARK STREET (fifth, 1m handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
DARK STREET fared best of those to race far side in the straight and, though four lengths behind the winner in fifth of 13, this was a fine effort. The cut back from the extended 1m2f trip clearly suited and he’s open to improvement after just two runs in handicap company.
MA FRANCE (second, 6f maiden, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
MA FRANCE took the ‘swamp’ route from stall 1 in the 6f maiden for three-year-olds and her narrow second to 9-4 favourite Angel Girl can be upgraded. The winner was always out wide from stall 12 and I’d back Denis Hogan’s runner-up to reverse the form if they met again.
MIDNIGHT TREASURE (ninth, 6f maiden, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
Newcomer MIDNIGHT TREASURE, sent off at 20-1 in this 6f maiden, ran better than his finishing position suggests. He was slowly away, met with brief interference and was then switched to challenge on the ‘dead’ rail. He plugged on to finish just under six lengths behind the winner and could outrun likely big odds next time.
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NOT AVAILABLE (fourth, 2m novices’ handicap chase, Newbury, Sunday, February 20th)
I took a chance and backed NOT AVAILABLE for the Class 2 novices’ handicap chase over the 2m trip but, with hindsight, the ground was softer than preferred. He struggled home in fourth of the seven runners but remains of interest for the Grand Annual. The stronger the pace the better and the bigger field at Cheltenham will suit – his record in fields of ten or more runners reads 32133223 (1-8).
PHILLY’S HOPE (sixth, 1m handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
Promising apprentice James Ryan was well drawn on PHILLY’S HOPE (stall 13 of 13) in division two of the 1m handicap but turned that good draw into a bad one by ducking down the inside after the cutaway. The five-year-old did well to finish sixth and would have gone close had she challenged down the middle of the track like the first four finishers did.
PURPLE POWER (second, 6f handicap, Newcastle, Monday, February 21)
PURPLE POWER was all the rage in the early market on his debut for George Boughey but had to settle for second place behind Million Reasons. The winner and third were prominent in a steadily-run contest and Purple Power’s jockey Callum Shepherd hasn’t got the greatest record on the straight course at Newcastle. Compensation awaits.
STOP ON RED (11th, 1m handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
STOP ON RED was well drawn in stall 10 of 14 but 7lb claimer Daniel King ended up in the ‘swamp’ on the inside rail and the 13-2 shot could never get competitive. It’s safe to draw a line though this and he usually comes to hand in the spring, recording form figures here at Dundalk in March/April of 1st, 2nd by a neck, 4th by half a length and 1st.
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TEDDY BOY (third, 5f handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
It’s a case of the wider the better at Dundalk at the moment and Edward Lynam’s TEDDY BOY, who had the worst of the draw in stall 1 of 9, did well to run third in the opening 5f handicap after switching to race on the inside rail after the cutaway. The winner stayed wide from stall 8 and he’ll win again, perhaps when returned to 6f.
WELL SUITED (seventh, 7f handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 22)
WELL SUITED (stall 3 of 10) challenged closest to the ‘dead’ rail in the 7f handicap and his four-length seventh is worthy of an uplift. The step back up to 1m could suit.
WYCHWOOD WHISPER (6th, 1m handicap, Dundalk, Monday, February 21)
WYCHWOOD WHISPER (stall 3), a well backed 11-2 shot, was another ‘swamp dweller’ in the same race as STOP ON RED. Her jockey tried to keep her out of the treacle but she hung left and ended up on the rail in the closing stages. Her three-and-a-half-length sixth of 14 was a solid effort in the circumstances.
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