Top tipster Andrew Mount found a 2pt winner on Tuesday courtesy of Golden Gal at Catterick (advised @ 5/1) and has identified five selections across the cards on Wednesday afternoon. Check out his thoughts on each of his fancies below, alongside a new customer offer from Matchbook, which is offering Money Back as a Free Bet up to £30 if your first bet loses.
Published: 5:22pm – 2nd August (Odds correct at time of posting, where available)
STORM VENTURE – Pontefract 2.50 (2pts win – 3/1 bet365, 11/4 generally)
You didn’t want to be anywhere near the inside rail at Chester’s meeting on July 16th and it looked like the course had ‘done a Pontefract’ and neglected to water the full width of the course. Those who raced wide enjoyed a massive edge and STORM VENTURE, though well drawn in stall 6 of 9 when debuting in the 6f novice stakes, was switched to the inside soon after the start. He kept on well into fourth under a hands and heels ride, and reportedly lost a shoe. He was less than two lengths down at the line and will come on a bundle for that initial experience.
SPARKLE IN HIS EYE – Pontefract 4.20 (1pt win – 7/2 generally)
There looks like being plenty of pace on here despite the small field. Mark Johnston’s Red Kite wears the first-time blinkers – a massive negative stat for his yard – and is likely to blast off from stall 3, while the first-time visored Arranmore (stall 2) is unlikely to be far away in the early stages. Captain Corelli (stall 4) is another who can put pace to the race. Dogged (stall 1) has the perfect set up but he’s won just once from 21 starts and was reportedly suffering from an irregular heartbeat when 66 lengths behind the winner at Haydock last time. The obvious one to take advantage is in-form Micky Hammond’s SPARKLE IN HIS EYE. He has the best career strike-rate of all seven runners and the switch from Musselburgh, which rarely favours patient tactics, could bring about improvement. I’ve saved on Jomont, another who will also appreciate the likely strong gallop.
BALLINTOY HARBOUR – Pontefract 4.50 (1pt win – 18/1 generally)
MELODY KING – Pontefract 4.50 (1pt win – 4/1 Sky Bet, Betfair & Paddy Power, 7/2 generally)
BALLINTOY HARBOUR’s wins have come at Pontefract, Newcastle and Newmarket’s July course – all tracks with stiff uphill finishes. His only stiff-track defeat came at Pontefract last September when his usual prominent running style was abandoned in favour of hold-up tactics in a race featuring two shorter-priced stablemates, who finished first and third. He’s drawn wide in stall 10 which is not ideal and, again, finds himself up against two shorter-priced (at the time of writing at least) stablemates. However, he’s 8lb lower than for his Newmarket success last summer and is back down to Class 5 level for the first time since his Newcastle win last April. He’s only had three runs at this level, recording form figures of 411 (2-3), with the defeat at 33-1 on his racecourse debut in a Thirsk (easy track) maiden won by subsequent Group 3/Listed winner Umm Kulthum. At the prices, the upsides outweigh the downsides and he’s worth a bet.
MELODY KING is a more obvious selection – he comes good at this time of year and did well to finish a close-up 11-1 fourth after racing down the outside at Beverley last time. He looks well drawn in stall 2 and his record in August/September reads 134941431 (3-9), improving to 1431 (2-4) over 5f only, with the fourth place excusable as he had the worst of the draw at Musselburgh.
HAVEONEYERSELF – Yarmouth 7.10 (2pts win – 9/1 Betfair & Paddy Power, 8/1 Sky Bet & 888sport)
HAVEONEYERSELF has a great overall record in small fields in the summer months, so it was a little disappointing that he could only finish fourth of five when we were on at Brighton last time. However, he was awkward at the start that day, he was ridden patiently in a steadily-run contest and his 7lb claimer had not ridden a winner at that point. Luke Catton takes over, he’s back down to his last winning mark and there should be more pace on this time.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
STORM VENTURE – Pontefract 2.50 (2pts win – 3/1 bet365, 11/4 generally)
SPARKLE IN HIS EYE – Pontefract 4.20 (1pt win – 7/2 generally)
BALLINTOY HARBOUR – Pontefract 4.50 (1pt win – 18/1 generally)
MELODY KING – Pontefract 4.50 (1pt win – 4/1 Sky Bet, Betfair & Paddy Power, 7/2 generally)
HAVEONEYERSELF – Yarmouth 7.10 (2pts win – 9/1 Betfair & Paddy Power, 8/1 Sky Bet & 888sport)
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