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.
DARTAN (won, 2m handicap, Dundalk, Friday, March 4)
DARTAN travelled like a dream on his way to victory in the 2m handicap and was value for much more than the one and three-quarters length winning margin, as he raced in the ‘swamp’ on the inside rail in the closing stages.
HARBANAKER (third, 7f handicap, Dundalk, Friday, March 4)
HARBANAKER did well to finish a 16-1 third of 13 after challenging on the ‘dead’ rail and can be supported next time. Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old was a winner over 1m here on his penultimate start and the return to that trip will suit. He won on turf at Leopardstown early last season – also over 1m – and should find another race in the coming weeks.
HYPERNOVA (sixth, 6f maiden, Dundalk, Friday, March 4)
HYPERNOVA, a 7-2 shot for the 6f maiden at Dundalk last Friday, raced closest to the ‘dead’ inside rail in the closing stages and can be forgiven his modest sixth. He’s now zero from seven but will find a race at some point, perhaps when professionally handled (he’s been ridden by 7lb claimers in six of those seven runs).
CLAIM UP TO £20 MONEY BACK AS CASH ON YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT
.
LITTLE PRAYER (third, 6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, March 7)
The early pace held up in the races over the shorter trips (5f-9.4f) at Wolverhampton on Monday night and LITTLE PRAYER deserves extra credit for his patiently-ridden third in the 6f Class 4 handicap. The winner (‘tracked leaders’), runner-up (‘close up’) and fourth (‘soon led’) were never far away and he could never quite get fully involved blow from off the pace. He was a length and a half clear of the next hold-up horse and might benefit from the return to Lingfield’s Polytrack.
NUMITOR (won, 2m3f handicap chase, Doncaster, Saturday, March 4)
NUMITOR failed to score in two bumpers and four hurdle races but is clearly on the upgrade as a chaser, sauntering home by 20 lengths when 5-4 favourite for this 2m3f contest. Since switched to fences his record reads 11331241 (4-8), improving to 1121 (3-4) on left-handed tracks. The step up from 2m clearly didn’t cause a problem and he can be followed until beaten.
SAVOY BROWN (won, 1m4f handicap, Lingfield, Saturday, March 5)
SAVOY BROWN took up the lead just over one furlong out but ended up on the far side rail – rarely the place to be at this venue – and looked sure to get swamped by the closers out wide. However, he dug in gamely to deny Stormingin by a short head with a further short head back to even-money favourite Sir Joseph Swan in third. The trio pulled six lengths clear of the fourth and Savoy Brown might be able to follow up at a similarly low level.
SULTANS PRIDE (won, 3m handicap hurdle, Doncaster, Saturday, March 5)
Ten-year-old SULTANS PRIDE has enjoyed a new lease of life since returning from wind surgery at about this time last year, recording form figures of 161P111 (5-7), improving to 1111 (4-4) at Doncaster only. He’s lightly raced for his age and might be able to keep his good run going.
CLAIM UP TO £20 MONEY BACK AS CASH ON YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT
.
THE BORAGH EMPRESS (eighth, 1m2.5f maiden, Dundalk, Friday, March 4)
Jake Coen, who took Joseph O’Brien’s Hypernova (see above) into the treacle on the inside rail in the 6f maiden, also took the rail route on stablemate THE BORAGH EMPRESS. She was only beaten by a little over five lengths and can be given another chance.
WALKING ON GLASS (fifth, 2m handicap, Dundalk, Friday, March 4)
WALKING ON GLASS was almost 14 lengths behind Dartan in the 2m handicap but raced hard up against the far side rail on turning into the straight and could never strike a blow. All his wins have come in late spring or summer and he should pay his way again this year.
WATER OF LEITH (third, 6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, March 7)
WATER OF LEITH, like Little Prayer (see above), emerged best of those ridden patiently. The 7-2 favourite missed the break and met trouble at a crucial stage and only lost out to rivals described as ‘made all’ and ‘prominent, chased winner over 4f out’. Both his wins have come over 6f at Wolverhampton in big fields.
CLAIM UP TO £20 MONEY BACK AS CASH ON YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT
New customers only. First deposit of at least £10/€10 in a single amount to be eligible for the rebate. Refund on losses will be refunded in cash equalling the amount of your first deposit (max refund £20). Payment restrictions & T&Cs apply