GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Find out which ten he believes should be kept in your trackers, alongside bet365‘s new customer offer of Bet £10 Get £50 In Free Bets.
EMARATY HERO (fifth, 2m handicap, York, Sunday, May 22)
EMARATY HERO was already in my tracker after his best-of-the-closers third in a steadily-run 1m4f handicap at Doncaster last month, a run he followed with a close-up third over 1m5f at Hamilton. He met trouble in the 13-runner line-up that day and did so again at York last Sunday when fifth of 17 in a 2m handicap. Last season, he didn’t seem to stay the trip when beaten by more than 11 lengths into fourth over this course and distance but probably just needs a small field. Since joining Grant Tuer his record in fields of 12 or more runners stands at 874235 (0-6), compared to 1143 (2-4) in anything smaller.
EY UP IT’S THE BOSS (won, 7f handicap, Leicester, Monday, May 23)
EY UP IT’S THE BOSS raced on the slowest part of the track – the stands’ side rail – but still managed to narrowly justify favouritsm in the 7f Class 6 handicap. Little Raven, the other stands’ side runner, trailed home almost 24 lengths back in seventh place. The winner’s record in cheekpieces now reads 211 (2-3) and he can complete his hat-trick.
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GLAMOROUS EXPRESS (sixth, 5f handicap, Goodwood, Saturday, May 21)
The pace held up in the 5f finale at Goodwood last Saturday and the eyecatcher was GLAMOROUS EXPRESS. The Ron Harris-trained three-year-old travelled sweetly in rear but met trouble and had to be switched for a run. The race was over by the time he saw daylight, but he finished full of running in sixth place, just over three lengths behind the winner. His record in handicaps now reads 416 (1-3), with the win at 22-1. He’s entered at Haydock on Thursday where the step back up to 6f shouldn’t be a problem.
GOLDEN FLAME (second, 2m handicap, Haydock, Saturday, May 21)
GOLDEN FLAME only just lost out to the well-backed Valley Forge, going down by a head in second place at odds of 15-2. Charlie & Mark Johnston’s four-year-old had struggled at Newmarket on his return to action but seems much happier on left-handed tracks, recording form figures of 23211012 (3-8), with the ‘duck egg’ coming at York last summer when 66-1 for the Melrose. He’ll be of interest for the Northumberland Plate next month.
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GOLDEN SANDS (won, 8.6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, May 23)
GOLDEN SANDS was given the perfect spring/summer Wolverhampton ride by Joe Fanning, sitting in second place, off the rail, before taking up the running on the home bend. He scooted away to score by three lengths to take his course record to 111 (3-3), as compared to 9550433 (0-7) at other venues. Be wary of supporting him at likely short odds if he runs away from Dunstall Park next time.
HAVEYOUMISSEDME (fourth, 2m handicap, Haydock, Saturday, May 21)
I was happy to dismiss the claims of Iain Jardine’s HAVEYOUMISSEDME but he exceeded my expectations by finishing a close-up fourth of the 12 runners. He usually peaks in the autumn – his three wins have come in September/October and his full record in handicaps from September 1st onwards reads 11122 (3-5).
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MAYWAKE (won, 7f handicap, York, Saturday, May 21)
MAYWAKE clocked the fastest time of the three 7f handicap winners at York last Saturday and in doing so this consistent sort took his record to 223222111 (3-9). This was his first run since December and he’s not the first Mayson to return from a break to win a handicap. Had we bet all of the sire’s progeny in handicaps over 5f-7f who were returning from a break of at least six weeks we’d have won 35 of our 237 bets (14.8% strike-rate) and made a profit of £123.91 to a £1 level stake at SP.
NACHO (won, 5f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, May 23)
Course expert NACHO bounced back to winning ways after three defeats on turf. His full course record now reads 228414071671 (3-12), improving to 224140161 (3-9) over 5f only. This was Paul Mulrennan’s only ride on the day and it’s interesting to note that his record at Wolverhampton, since the beginning of 2019, stands at 17 winners from 105 mounts (16.2% strike-rate) for a profit of £85.83 to a £1 level stake at SP. In handicaps only that improves to 17 from 81 (21%) for a profit of £109.83.
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ROMANOR (fourth, 2m handicap chase, Ludlow, Monday, May 23)
ROMANOR would have needed the run after a winter break when last of five at Newton Abbot in late March and will also come on for his modest fourth of six at Ludlow on Monday. Six of his seven wins have come in the June to August period, the other on September 4, and he’ll be suited by the return to Stratford where he’s won on four occasions.
THE LATE LEGEND (third, 3m1.5f handicap chase, Ludlow, Monday, May 23)
THE LATE LEGEND, a Warwick winner last time out, could only finish a nine-length third of five when starting as the 2-1 favourite for this Class 4 contest. However, these fences were simply too stiff for him – 10.4% of chasers have fallen or unseated here in recent years compared to just 4.4% at Warwick. It’s interesting to note that after he won at Sedgefield in November 2020 jockey Sean Bowen, quoted in the Racing Post, said ‘The Late Legend didn’t jump great when he won at Huntingdon and was worse last time, he was never really going. He backs off them a bit, they’re stiff fences. He enjoys it round here, they’re only small fences and he attacked them a bit better.’ He’s three from three over fences at Sedgefield and will be very interesting when returned to that venue.
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