GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Check out his list of those that impressed below, along with an excellent sign-up offer from our friends at 888sport.
ARTISTIC RIFLES (won, 1m handicap, Doncaster, Saturday, March 27)
The strong headwind didn’t prevent ARTISTIC RIFLES from making most of the running in the Spring Mile and this performance is worthy of a serious upgrade. Ed Bethell’s five-year-old now has form figures of 131 (2-3) for his current yard, improving to 11 (2-2) on turf. The Spring Cup at Newbury would make an obvious target.
BARDENSTOWN LAD (won, 2m3.5f national hunt flat race, Tipperary, Wednesday, March 24)
With the inside rail badly cut up by the time of the last race I was happy to lay BARDENSTOWN LAD in running after he raced prominently in the ‘swamp’. However, John McConnell’s point winner bolted up by 15 lengths and looks a horse of serious potential.
CASEY WEST (second, 2m3.5f national hunt flat race, Tipperary, Wednesday, March 24)
CASEY WEST was sent off as the 11-10 favourite on the strength of his Rules debut nine-length second at Punchestown last month but he raced in the deep stuff towards the inside rail. His three-length runner-up effort is worthy of a major upgrade and it’s surely only a matter of time before he goes one better.
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DAWAALEEB (eighth, 1m handicap, Doncaster, Saturday, March 27)
DAWAALEEB did second best of the prominent racers when eighth in the Spring Mile and is the other to take from the race in addition to the winner (see above). He has a superior strike-rate on the all-weather (5-10, as opposed to 2-26 on turf) but was only beaten by a nose at Redcar last September and he’ll be interesting in a small field when not facing competition for the early lead.
FINALLY MINE (fifth, 1m2f apprentices’ handicap, Doncaster, Saturday, March 27)
FINALLY MINE, unplaced on Tapeta in her two previous starts, was well supported for this apprentices’ handicap but her forcing style was always going to be at a disadvantage. She did really well to finish a close-up fifth of 14 and will surely be winning soon on a track kinder to her running style.
KAILASH (third, 1m2f maiden, Navan, Saturday, March 27)
The ground looked deeper on the far side of the track in the straight and it helped to be drawn high. The first four home in this 1m2f auction maiden were drawn 15, 18, 3 and 17 with KAILASH the outlier from stall 3. Dermot Weld’s 5-2 shot looked suited by the step up in trip and can be supported next time.
LEGACY OF DREAMS (ninth, 2m3.5f national hunt flat race, Tipperary, Wednesday, March 24)
LEGACY OF DREAMS had shown plenty of promise on his Rules debut at Punchestown nine days earlier, finishing fourth at 50-1, and was sent off at just 7-2 for this point-to-point bumper. However, he raced in the ‘swamp’ on the inside rail and finished miles behind as a result. He could be worth chancing at likely big odds next time.
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MARADA (second, 2m4.5f Grade 2 mares’ limited novices’ handicap hurdle, Newbury, Saturday, March 27)
MARADA did best of those ridden patiently when a close-up second to Bourbon Beauty. This race has often favoured fresh horses – the winner was returning from a three-month break, whereas Marada had raced just 20 days earlier. This was her first run beyond 2m and she stayed the trip well.
PARTY ISLAND (third, 1m2f apprentices’ handicap, Doncaster, Saturday, March 27)
PARTY ISLAND fared best of the prominent racers in division two of the apprentices’ handicap, finishing just over one length back in third. Slower ground would have been preferable – his record on good to soft or softer going reads 1233 (1-4) – and he can be supported when underfoot conditions are in his favour.
SCARAMANGA (won, 2m handicap hurdle, Newbury, Friday, March 26)
SCARAMANGA kept on gamely from off the pace to score narrowly from Hang In There, taking his jumps record on officially good to soft or quicker going to 321211 (3-6). Post-race, trainer Paul Nicholls said he had expected Scaramanga to need this run and that he would now be aimed at the Swinton or the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
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