Top Tipster Andrew Mount gives two E/W selections for Wednesday’s racing, one apiece from the Hereford and Newcastle cards.
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Posted: 4.50pm January 3rd (Odds correct at time of writing)
2.00 Hereford – BALLYBREEN (1pt E/W -14/1 generally, SkyBet paying 5 places)
This looks a good race to play as there are two horses at the head of the betting that I don’t like – 1) Post Chaise, who looked flattered under a patient ride when runner-up in a pace-collapse race at Haydock and has been beaten as favourite on his last three starts, and 2) Diegos Way, beaten by 32 lengths when a 9-4 shot on soft ground at Hexham last time and vulnerable again on similar going. But who do we side with? At first glance my thought was none of them but I do like the ‘time of year’ angle with BALLYBREEN. He was beaten by 50 lengths when reappearing at Ffos Las in last November but form figures in January of 11126 (3-5), with the wins at 16-1, 5-1 and 5-1, suggest he might do better this time. The runner-up effort came at the hands of the 89-rated Don Harbager, who won three times subsequently and is now rated 115, and the sixth place came in this race last year when 20-1 in a field of 14. He was wearing a new headgear combination that day and was always playing catch-up after a mistake at the first fence. His 14-length defeat was a fair effort in the circumstances and he’s far better equipped to cope with soft conditions than the vast majority of his rivals.
Andrew Mount’s January Jumpers – Tuesday, 20th December
With little in the way of eyecatchers in the past week, Andrew Mount turns his attention to the New Year and offers some punting advice in his ‘January Jumpers’ feature. I love trying to spot horses who peak at a certain time of year, with Mr Wagyu, who has an amazing record in June/July, being…
Tue 20 Dec 20222.50 Newcastle – JEMS BOND (1pt E/W -12/1 Bet365, 9/2 generally, SkyBet paying 4 places)
Six O’Hearts is in my tracker after his luckless run over 5f at Wolverhampton last time when we were on but the step back up to 6f on a straight track might not be ideal and, at odds of around 11-2, I can leave him alone. Of greater interest at the available prices is JEMS BOND, who will appreciate the drop back to a stiff 6f, especially with a strong headwind forecast. He was a winner in February of last year on his most recent 6f all-weather outing and his full record over this trip on the all-weather reads 82131 (2-5), with the eighths place when 150-1 for a novice contest and the placed efforts at 20-1 and 18-1 respectively.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.00 Hereford – BALLYBREEN (1pt E/W -14/1 generally)
2.50 Newcastle – JEMS BOND (1pt E/W -12/1 Bet365, 9/2 generally)