Top tipster Andrew Mount has five selections on a typically busy Saturday. Check out his selections and his thoughts for each below, alongside 888sport‘s exclusive sign-up offer of Bet £10 and Claim £40 In Bet Bonuses.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
OO DE LALLY – 1.40 York (1pt win – 7-1 William Hill)
OO DE LALLY dislikes Ascot – finishing 11th of 12, seventh of eight and last of 16 from three visits – and also needs his first run of the season. If we knock out his Ascot runs and those on his reappearance, his 7f record becomes 1112181, with the sole unplaced effort at Chester where he could never get competitive under a patient ride from the worst of the draw.
He shaped creditably behind Boardman (winner again since) on last month’s comeback and is napped to land the 7f Class 2 handicap at York on Saturday.
BACK OO DE LALLY AND GET £40 IN BET BONUSES
ELDEYAAR – 4.20 Haydock (1pt each-way – 14/1 bet365 bonus)
The majority of the pace horses are drawn low in this 16-runner 6f handicap and it might pay to be drawn low, as it was in the sprints here at the tail-end of last season.
ELDEYAAR was a big eyecatcher against the draw bias at Ripon in a 6f handicap last time where he ‘won’ the race down the stands’ side. Sadly for his backers, he was only fourth overall as three low-drawn horses beat him (first four drawn 2, 3, 4 and 12 of 14).
He was only beaten by a length and a half when a 50-1 sixth of 19 at Thirsk on his penultimate start – his only other handicap outing – and it will be disappointing if he doesn’t make the frame.
BACK ELDEYAAR AND GET £40 IN BET BONUSES
MEGA MARVEL – 4.35 Goodwood (1pt each-way – 25/1 bet365)
MEGA MARVEL went into my tracker after I saw him prior to his debut at Leicester last autumn where he attracted some market support for a 7f novice contest despite being very free to post and having the build of a sprinter.
He faded into ninth of the 11 runners that day but improved for the drop to 6f when fifth on soft ground at the same venue next time. I thought he was an obvious handicap plot so left him alone on his third start at Newcastle where he duly won comfortably, again over 6f. He’s run just OK in a pair of 6f handicaps this year – finishing fourth of seven at Doncaster and 11th of 18 at Ascot – but I’m very interested to see him drop to the minimum trip for the first time in his short career.
His sire, Equiano, excelled at this trip, with his 2008 King’s Stand win the obvious highlight, and his dam, Megaleka, was an eight-time winner at 5f. The recent rain could aid his cause and his stable has had winners at 28-1 and 16-1 in recent days.
BACK MEGA MARVEL AND GET £40 IN BET BONUSES
EXMINSTER – 4.42 York (0.5pt each-way – 14-1 William Hill)
EXMINSTER was a big eyecatcher when runner-up over 1m at Haydock last time. That race was run to suit the closers, with the winner, third and fourth all coming from midfield or further back.
A number of the other prominent racers have come out and run well since – Lady Valentine, eighth of 13 overall and third best of those who raced up with the pace, finished second at 10-1 on her next start, Canny Fettle (ninth) was third at 10-1 on his next outing.
That was only Exminster’s second start since gelded and there could be more to come. It’s possible that we won’t see the best of his until later this term or even next season – his sire Ribchester didn’t peak until age four – but he’s a bigger price than I expected and is worth chancing. I’ve saved on FARAWAYTHOUGHTS, who took the ‘swamp’ route round the inside when turned over at odds of 1-6 at Lingfield in January when we last saw him.
BACK EXMINSTER AND GET £40 IN BET BONUSES
ATLANTIC STORM – 7.00 Stratford (2.5pts win – 100-30 William Hill)
ATLANTIC STORM is something of an oddball, as he’s a hold-up horse who does well at Stratford, a track where it usually pays to race up with the pace. He moved his Warwick scored on to 0-9 when runner-up there on his return from a break last time, only running out of petrol close home, and will be happier at this venue.
His Stratford record over 2m-2m1f reads 1121222145 (4-10) and there’s plenty of pace in this six-runner line-up, with Dogon, Tikkinthebox, Larch Hill and Jamacho all potential front-runners. He runs off a handicap mark of just 99, having scored over course and distance off a 10lb higher mark at this time last year.
BACK ATLANTIC STORM AND GET £40 IN BET BONUSES
Today’s Best Bets:
Oo De Lally – 1pt win – 1.40 York (7-1 William Hill)
Eldeyaar – 1pt each-way – 4.20 Haydock (14-1 bet365)
Mega Marvel – 1pt each-way – 4.35 Goodwood (25/1 bet365)
Exminster – 0.5pt each-way – 4.42 York (14-1 William Hill)
Atlantic Storm – 2.5pts win – 7.00 Stratford (100-30 William Hill)
Get The Most Out Of Your Race Day With GG!
Min deposit of £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expires after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal restrictions & Full T&C’s apply.