Our expert editor has delved into the entries up and down the country and highlighted three trainers who are sending their sole representative on a long journey to the track on Monday. Check out the names of the long-distance travellers below, alongside an exclusive customer offer from Sky Bet, who are offering up to £30 In Free Bets, when you sign up and place ANY bet.
Trainer – James Ferguson
City Of Life (13:48 Ayr, Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap)
Newmarket Trainer James Ferguson is set to have his first ever runner at Ayr on Monday afternoon as CITY OF LIFE makes the 740-mile round trip up north from his Newmarket base.
Despite showing very little in his three outings in novice company on the all-weather towards the back end of last year, City Of Life showed plenty of improvement when making an encouraging handicap debut over ten furlongs at Yarmouth last month. Allocated an opening mark of 62, the gelded son of Cityscape was badly hampered at the three-furlong marker on that occasion, but despite that unfortunate interference, James Ferguson’s three-year-old managed to regather his momentum and stayed on strongly inside the closing stages to be beaten just two lengths at the line in fifth.
Still unexposed after just four career starts, it would be no surprise to see City Of Life shed the maiden tag on Monday afternoon following his eye-catching return to action, and with the handicapper deciding to drop him 1lb as a result, James Ferguson’s charge certainly looks like the one to side with in a very modest handicap.
Trainer – Charlie Fellowes
Madame Peltier (19:45 Carlisle, Emerald Handicap)
Charlie Fellowes makes the 540-mile round trip to Carlisle on Monday evening with just the sole runner in MADAME PELTIER. A three-time winner for connections, the daughter of Exceed and Excel has certainly had her issues at home and made just three racecourse appearances during her four-year-old campaign last season.
Unsuited by good to firm ground on her penultimate start at Haydock way back in June last year, Charlie Fellowes’ mare returned to the track following a 364-day absence at Yarmouth last month. Notably weak in the betting beforehand, the five-year-old ultimately shaped very much in need of her seasonal reappearance after weakening out of contention well inside the final couple of furlongs.
Although she arrives here with a few questions to answer, Madame Peltier should strip noticeably fitter following her recent return and although she is priced up as the outsider of the nine-runner field, jockey Saffie Osborne (1-2 50%) returns to the saddle on Monday evening and Charlie Fellowes’ mare could outrun her lengthy odds.
Trainer – Ali Stronge
Gatwick Kitten (20:45 Carlisle, Neo Handicap)
Berkshire-based trainer Ali Stronge is set to have her first runner at Carlisle on Monday evening as she sends recent Leicester runner-up GATWICK KITTEN up north on the 580-mile round trip.
Despite failing to get off the mark for former trainer Dermot Weld, the Kitten’s Joy gelding certainly didn’t take long to make an immediate impression on British soil, shedding the maiden tag with an impressive turn of foot on just his second start for new connections at Brighton back in May. Although the five-year-old was unable to add to that breakthrough victory when finishing down the field in two subsequent starts, Gatwick Kitten got firmly back on track with a creditable effort at Leicester just eighteen days ago.
Officially 2lb out of the handicap, Gatwick Kitten appears to have a tough task now tackling Class 5 company for the very first time on Monday evening, however, it’s worth noting that the yard struck with a big price winner just last week and the five-year-old is certainly not one to underestimate, especially after bouncing back to form last time out.
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