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.
ATOMISE (third, 7f handicap, Yarmouth, Thursday, May 26)
This season. it’s been a case of the closer to the stands’ side rail the better on the straight course (5f-1m) at Yarmouth and those drawn in stalls 1 and 2 are 0-24 in handicaps (prior to racing on Tuesday, May 31). Two of the three highest-drawn runners – Rocket Yogi (stall 8 of 10, once adjusted for non-runners) and Lelabad (stall 10) fought out the finish of the 7f opener, with the former prevailing by a nose. ATOMISE (stall 1) was three lengths back in third but it was still a good effort to spoil a tricast for those drawn high. Charlie Fellowes’ filly won over a stiff 6f on soft ground last season but has seemed happier over 7f this term and might even stay furth
DANDY MAESTRO (third, 1m handicap, Yarmouth, Thursday, May 26)
The poor recent record of those drawn low didn’t stop the punters from piling on DANDY MAESTRO (stall 1 of 7), who was sent off as the 11-10 favourite for the 1m Class 4 handicap. Richard Spencer’s four-year-old was caught wide throughout and his half-length third can be upgraded.
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HABANERO STAR (seventh, 1m handicap, Yarmouth, Thursday, May 26)
Given the obvious stands’ side bias it was surprising that more riders didn’t take the rail route in the closing 1m Class 6 handicap. HABANERO STAR (stall 3 of 10) wasn’t best drawn but William Buick made no attempt to get cover on the 9-2 shot and he faded into an 11-lenghth seventh. He was well ridden by Hollie Doyle to score over course and distance on his penultimate start and is worth another chance.
LADY HAYES (sixth, 1m4f Group 3, Haydock, Saturday, May 28)
LADY HAYES was on my shortlist of three for the 1m4f Pinnacle Stakes but raced widest of all from stall 9 of 9 and her sixth place is worthy of a major uplift. She was going nowhere a furlong out but stayed on strongly to finish less than three lengths behind the winner. The ground would have been quicker than preferred and she could surprise at Royal Ascot if getting her conditions.
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MORANI KALI (sixth, 1m handicap, Yarmouth, Thursday, May 26)
MORANI KALI popped up at 40-1 at Kempton last November and another big-priced success could be imminent judging by his 100-1 sixth of ten in the same race as Habanero Star (see above). Moderately drawn in stall 4 of 10, he got no cover under a prominent ride and came under strong pressure just after three furlongs out. He plugged on towards the middle of the track (the race developed stands’ side) and will be very interesting next time.
SPYCATCHER (seventh, 7f Group 3, Haydock, Saturday, May 28)
There was a strong rail bias on the round course at Haydock last Saturday and POGO was probably flattered when breaking smartly and making all in the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes. Runner-up LANEQASH also took the rail route and those who raced/challenged wide can have their performances upgraded. SPYCATCHER was only seventh but had little chance after challenging widest of all and his six-length defeat was better than it looked. All his wins have come at 6f and he’ll be very interesting when dropped in trip, perhaps at Royal Ascot.
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SUNRAY MAJOR (seventh, 7f Group 3, Haydock, Saturday, May 28)
SUNRAY MAJOR did especially well to finish a close-up fourth after challenging wide in the John Of Gaunt Stakes and, like Spycatcher (see above), will be of interest at Royal Ascot next month. He failed to last home when a respectable sixth to Baaeed in the Lockinge on his comeback and is best judged on his 7f figures of 114 (2-3).
SUPAGIRL (fourth, 1m2f Premier Handicap, Navan, Saturday, May 28)
By the time of the 1m2f Royal County Handicap most of the jockeys were aware that the far rail was riding ‘dead’ yet Nathan Crosse elected to go solo on the fence on 14-1 shot SUPAGIRL (stall 1 of 13). She made much of the running and only lost out on second place close home. The three that beat her all came from off the pace and she’ll be very backable next time, ideally in a small field and/or a race confined to fillies.
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SUPER CUB (third, 5f handicap, Navan, Saturday, May 28)
On a track that was favouring high draws it was some performance by SUPER CUB (stall 5 of 17 once adjusted for non-runners) to grab third after challenging on the far side. He was over three lengths ahead of the next three-year-old to finish and this was even more meritorious when you consider the poor current form of his stable.
VIOLA (second, 1m4f Group 3, Haydock, Saturday, May 28)
VIOLA’s strong finish was probably exaggerated by switching to the quicker strip on the far side in the very late stages but it was still a noteworthy performance, as she was stuck out wide for the majority of the 1m4f trip. Fast ground suits, as do tracks with a long finishing straight, and Ascot could be right up her street.
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