A trio of runners has caught our editor’s eye among the declarations on Monday, including an interesting bumper entry. Read their thoughts below alongside an exclusive bet365 offer where you can get £50 in Free Bets when you bet £10.
EAST STREET (1:00 Catterick)
The switch into handicap company can see EAST STREET return to winning ways after finishing second to an improving Donald McCain runner at Newcastle last time out.
Sue Smith’s charge made a pleasing start to life on British soil when winning on debut at Wetherby over 2miles, rallying well in the closing stages to see off his main market rival by 0.5l.
Despite the form of that winning effort being open to question, it appeared as if East Street bumped into one on his second hurdle outing when finishing a long way behind the authorative winner Since Day One. Donald McCain’s six-year-old has subsequently completed a hat trick of wins in novice company before finishing runner-up in the Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Musselburgh earlier this month.
East Street was readily outpaced on his last start over 2miles and connections have wisely decided to go up in trip for his third start under rules. The former Irish point-to-pointer should relish the added yardage over the extended 2m3f and it’s also worth noting it’s Ryan Mania’s only ride on the card.
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FULL OF LIGHT (3:30 Plumpton)
It’s hard to look past FULL OF LIGHT in this handicap hurdle after the five-year-old ran out a game-winner over course and distance back in December.
Full Of Light was making just his third start over hurdles on that occasion and after finishing runner-up in his first two outings at Ludlow and Uttoxeter, Nicky Henderson’s grey gelding finally put it all together and was comfortably on top at the line despite the winning margin.
Jockey Nico de Boinville allowed the five-year-old to run down the final couple of flights and never had to get too serious in the closing stages to see off the challenge of Gary Moore’s formerly smart runner Antony.
A 5lb rise looks manageable for that recent victory and this is Nicky Henderson’s only runner on the Plumpton card, a track where he is an impressive 5 from 9 this season.
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YOU WEAR IT WELL (3:50 Catterick)
Considering the yard have a modest strike rate in bumpers over the years, it was certainly interesting to see market support behind YOU WEAR IT WELL for Jamie Snowden back in January at Ludlow.
The five-year-old mare was sent off the clear second favourite and despite pulling hard throughout the contest, You Wear It Well ran an encouraging race after being briefly outpaced, staying on well to regain second behind eventual winner Mullenbeg.
There should be further improvement to come after that encouraging first time out display and it looks particularly significant that the yard has enlisted the services of Gavin Sheehan for the mare’s second career outing.
The jockey is a rare visitor to Catterick but has a tremendous record at the track, winning on 10 of his 22 mounts in the last five seasons (45%). With the yard also in decent form, it all points towards a big run from You Wear It Well and the mare can make her second outing a winning one on Monday afternoon.
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