GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s action
Find out which runners he wants to keep onside below, alongside bet365‘s new customer offer of £50 in Free Bets when you deposit and bet £10.
ATRAFAN, second, 6f handicap, Newcastle, Wednesday, January 11th
ATRAFAN only went down by a nose when 25-1 for the division two of the 6f Huge Daily Boosts Only At BetUK Handicap, taking his record in January to 11112 (4-5). He finished more than two lengths clear of the third and will be hard to beat in the 6f classified stakes at Newcastle this Friday (5.45).
DASHING DICK, third, 1m handicap, Chelmsford, Tuesday, January 3rd
They looked to go hard up front in the 1m Class 4 Clockstock 2023 Handicap in which the winner, runner-up, fourth and fifth all came from midfield or further back. The exception to the patiently-ridden rule was DASHING DICK, three-quarters of a length behind the winner in third. Both his wins came over a straight 7f on turf and he cut benefit from a drop in trip next time.
DOUBLE DEALING, sixth, 5f handicap, Wolverhampton, Monday, January 9th
DOUBLE DEALING won three times over 6f-7f on the all-weather for Richard Fahey and made the frame over 1m on several occasions. He’s been campaigned exclusively over the minimum trip of 5f in three goes for Stuart Williams, the latest of which came in the BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday night. Wearing cheekpieces for the first time, he never managed to get off the inside rail where the surface is often slowest and, after getting outpaced in the straight, wasn’t given a hard time by Jason Hart. The 5-1 shot came home in last place but was less than four lengths behind the winner and will be of interest when returned to a longer trip.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets – Tuesday, 10th January
Top Tipster Andrew Mount gives two selections for Tuesday’s racing, including a confident 2pt win tip at Exeter. Back his selections with Bet UK’s new customer offer and Get £30 Free Bets when you Bet just £10 Posted: 5.15pm January 9th (Odds correct at time of writing) 3.15 Exeter – FAVORI DE SIVOLA (2pt win…
Mon 09 Jan 2023IRISH POINT, second, Grade 1 novice hurdle, Naas, Sunday, January 8th
IRISH POINT couldn’t get in a meaningful blow at all-the-way winner CHAMP KIELY, going down by just over two lengths. The omitted hurdles probably didn’t help and it’s possible that the left-handed track wasn’t ideal either. His other two hurdle runs produced a comfortable maiden win at Cork where he jumped out to his right on occasions and a head second at 18-1 in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
JENSON BENSON, fourth, 1m handicap, Chelmsford, Tuesday, January 3rd
JENSON BENSON kept on well into fourth in the same race as DASHING DICK (see above) and can usually be relied upon to run his race at Chelmsford. His full record at the Essex venue now reads 1313251204 (3-10), improving to 13110 (3-5) in fields of 11 or more runners.
KNOCKNAMONA, won, 2m4f handicap chase, Newcastle, Saturday, January 7th
KNOCKNAMONA was beaten by a combined margin of 54 lengths in his first two runs this term but made it three third-time-out wins in the past three seasons when comfortably landing the 2m4f At The Races App Form Study Handicap Chase at Newcastle last Saturday. Deep ground suits and he can win again before the weather turns.
MY GRANNY LILY, third, 2m mares’ handicap hurdle, Taunton, Monday, January 9th
MY GRANNY LILY has improved for handicapping this season, finishing a 100-1 third at Ludlow (2m5f) before her 8-1 fourth of 14 when dropped to 2m at Ffos Las. The cheekpieces went on for the first time when she contested the 2m Portman Cup Saturday 21st January Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on Monday and, though beaten again, her three-and-a-half-length third was a huge effort given the pace bias. The 4-1 shot disputed the lead at a strong gallop with 9-4 favourite TINTERN ABBEY and the race was set up for the closers, with SAWPIT SIENNA scoring comfortably from off the pace after racing wide on the better ground. It was a fine effort in the circumstances and she’ll break her duck sooner rather than later on this evidence.
STRUCK GOLD, 11th, 7f handicap, Kempton, Friday, January 6th
The John Butler-trained STRUCK GOLD had hinted at ability when big prices (100-1, 200-1 and 200-1) in novice company and was sent off at 16-1 for his handicap debut in the 7f Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap at Kempton last week. The son of No Nay Never was caught wide in a four-way dispute of the early lead and was very awkward around the penultimate bend. He was widest of all on entering the straight and didn’t pick up. He failed to beat a rival but had little chance from his track position and there could be a small race in him.
TIDE TIMES, won, 3m1.5f handicap chase, Ludlow, Friday, January 6th
TIDE TIMES took his Ludlow record to 1121 (3-4) when holding on by half a length from 10-11 favourite REE OKKA in the Plyvine Caterers Handicap Chase at Ludlow last Friday. His sole defeat at the Shropshire venue came at the hands of the progressive Laskalin. Tide Times hasn’t won away from Ludlow since his Ascot success in November 2020 and might prove vulnerable if changing venues next time.
TOP TARGET, second, 2m5f novices’ hurdle, Wincanton, Saturday, January 7th
TOP TARGET started as the 4-6 favourite for the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton last Saturday but had to settle for second place behind Joe Tizzard’s 50-1 shot I SHUT THAT D’OR after jumping and hanging to his left throughout. He’s won well at Wetherby on his penultimate start and a return to a left-handed track will obviously suit.