GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Check them out below alongside bet365‘s new customer offer of Bet £10 Get £50 In Free Bets.
ARAIFJAN (third, 6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, April 18)
ARAIFJAN went into the tracker after his three-length seventh of nine over 5f here on his penultimate start, doing well to finish so close after making the running on the ‘dead’ rail in a race run to suit the closers. Returning after a break of four months and stepped back up to 6f, he was again taken on for the lead and proved vulnerable to the closers, finishing third at 20-1. This was a fine effort in the circumstances, and he’ll be of particular interest at Chelmsford where his forcing style is so effective.
BANNED (tenth, 1m2f maiden, Newbury, Sunday, April 17)
BANNED ran a race full of promise on her debut at Nottingham in late September, keeping on from midfield to finish a 16-1 fifth of 12 and doing second best of those ridden patiently. Weak in the betting when reappearing at Newbury last Sunday, she travelled well to challenge the leaders three out but couldn’t sustain her effort, weakening into tenth. The 18-1 shot traded at 4.3 (just short of 100-30) in running and will strip fitter next time.
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BEZZAS LAD (tenth, 6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, April 18)
BEZZAS LAD surprised me when winning over this course and distance in late February, as he’d previously proved best over a straight 6f on turf. He ran a stinker here, finishing last of ten despite starting at 11-2 but will be of interest back on turf, especially at Chepstow and Nottingham
CUBAN BREEZE (tenth, 5f fillies and mares Listed race, Bath, Thursday, April 18)
CUBAN BREEZE was a big eyecatcher at Chelmsford on his previous start, coming from too far back to finish second on a track that was massively favouring early pace. Backed from 50-1 into 28-1 here, she was ridden prominently which immediately put paid to her chance (her low draw also turned out to be unhelpful). It’s safe to draw a line thought this and she’ll win again soon at a lower level.
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FOLLY GATE (sixth, 2m1f handicap hurdle, Newton Abbot, Saturday, April 16)
Reverting to hurdles after a luckless spell over the larger obstacles, FOLLY GATE was ridden very much with the future in mind. Weak in the market, he was held up in mid-division and Chester Williams never picked up his stick. This 22-length sixth can be completely ignored and, though a 16-race maiden, there’s a race or two in him on left-handed tracks.
LADY MANDER (sixth, 6f handicap, Redcar, Monday, April 18)
They went hard up front in this 6f Class 6 handicap, especially those who were drawn low towards the far side rail, and the race was set up for the high-drawn closers, with the first four home described by the Racing Post as ‘dwelt start, towards rear on near side’, ‘towards rear of midfield on near side’, midfield on near side’ and ‘towards rear of midfield’. Three of the prominent racers dropped away to finished 17th, 19th and 20th of the 20 runners but LADY MANDER managed to hold on for sixth place. This was a cracking effort in the circumstances and she can be supported next time.
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NORTHERN EXPRESS (second, 7f handicap, Musselburgh, Saturday, April 16)
There was plenty of pace on in the 7f Class 2 Silver Arrow Handicap at Musselburgh last Saturday, but it was still difficult to make up ground from the rear, with the winner, third and fourth all on the front end throughout. NORTHERN EXPRESS, second by half a length under a patient ride on his reappearance, was the one to take from the race. The Michael Dods-trained four-year-old scored on fast ground at York and Ayr last term and should find another race or two this year.
NOTRE MAISON (fifth, 5.7f handicap, Bath, Thursday, April 14)
It was a big advantage to challenge late and wide at Bath last Thursday and the first four finishers in the opener were described as ‘held up in rear’, ‘midfield’, ‘slowly into stride, in rear’ and ‘towards rear of midfield’. Best of the prominent racers was NOTRE MAISON (stall 1), who raced on the slowest part of the track from her inside draw. Stuart Kittow’s handicap debutante had shown promise at big prices in novice company and should find a race in the near future.
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PERFECT FOCUS (sixth, 7f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, April 18)
PERFECT FOCUS, previously with Lee Carter, was heavily backed on his debut for Henry Spiller but could only finish sixth. However, that doesn’t tell half the story as the five-year-old looked to be very tenderly handled and attracted the interest of the stewards. His trainer usually does well on the all-weather at the first time of asking with new acquisitions, but this one can be given another chance.
SIN E SHEKELLS (tenth, 6f handicap, Redcar, Monday, April 18)
SIN E SHEKELLS, like Lady Mander (see above), did far too much too soon in this 6f handicap. He weakened into mid-division but still fared better than the majority of the prominent racers and is likely to be underrated in the betting next time.
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