Expert tipster Andrew Mount gives three picks for Sunday’s RACING
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Posted: 5pm February 11th (Odds correct at time of writing)
EXETER 3.30
LALLYGAG – 1.5pts e/w (11/2 bet365, 4.1 generally)
Luccia is odds=on for this novices’ hurdle but we’ve not seen her since November and I’d rather back second-favourite LALLYGAG e/w. The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old is incredibly consistent, recording form figures for his current yard on right-handed tracks of 121121 (4-6), with the defeats by Deere Mark and Grey Dawning (dual winner since). I was really impressed by his one-and-a-quarter-length runner-up effort to Grey Dawning over course and distance in early December as the odds-on winner raced wide on the better ground whereas inexperienced Freddie Gingell kept him to the ‘swamp’ on the inside rail. He bolted up at Taunton next time and the drying ground will suit.
EXETER 4.00
MOKA DE VASSY – 2pts win (10/3 bet365, 3/1 generally)
The Jane Williams-trained MOKA DE VASSY out-ran his 66-1 SP to finish a 12-length fifth of ten in the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Trials Day, staying on well when the race was all but over. This was his fourth straight run in Grade 1 or 2 company and he looks very interesting now making his handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces.
NAVAN 4.10
PORTSTORM – 1pt each-way (14/1 generally)
In Britain there are more left-handed tracks than right-handed ones but in Ireland the opposite is true and Irish horses who prefer going left-handed don’t always have many suitable opportunities. PORTSTORM, 0-10 on right-handed tracks including an unseat at Down Royal last time, will appreciate the return to left-handed Navan where he finished a solid 25-1 sixth of 23 in a handicap hurdle on his latest visit. He returned to fences after that promising effort, jumping out to his left when fifth of 12 at right-handed Punchestown before the aforementioned Down Royal mishap. His full record left-handed stands at 37F5321246 (1-10), with all those runs coming in bumper or over hurdles. He’s beaten 67.47% of his rivals left-handed, compared to just 41.28% right-handed and he looks set to improve for going this way round over fences for the first time.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
EXETER 3.30
LALLYGAG – 1.5pts e/w (11/2 bet365, 4.1 generally)
EXETER 4.00
MOKA DE VASSY – 2pts win (10/3 bet365, 3/1 generally)
NAVAN 4.10
PORTSTORM – 1pt each-way (14/1 generally)