GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s action!
BLUE BEACH (second, 2m4.5f, Grade 2 mares’ limited novices’ handicap hurdle, Newbury, Saturday, March 25th)
BLUE BEACH took her career record to 12312 (2-5) when finding only ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE (see below) too good in the Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor ‘National Hunt’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Limited Handicap Hdl) at Newbury last Saturday. The pace held up, despite the big field, and Mel Rowley’s six-year-old fared best of those to come from midfield or further back. She can go one better next time.
BLUE YONDER (seventh, 8.6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Saturday, March 25th)
BLUE YONDER trailed home last of eight in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton on his reappearance earlier this month but was well supported for the 8.6f It’s Time To Turn To talkSPORT Handicap at the same venue last Saturday. Ridden patiently, Richard Fahey’s 11-2 shot, never looked like getting into contention in a race dominated by pace horses (the winner made all) and eventually came home over 11 lengths back in seventh place. There are races in him on this evidence and he might do better when returned to good or faster turf.
CONYERS HILL (third, 2m maiden, hurdle, Clonmel, Tuesday, March 21st)
Conditions were desperate on the hurdles course at Clonmel last Tuesday and it was an advantage to race wide on the better ground. CONYERS HILL kept on well into third in the Fourmilewater Maiden Hurdle on his debut for Paul Nolan, going down by just a length and a half despite challenging on the inside rail in the home straight. The son of Walk In The Park will surely find a race on this evidence and can be backed next time.
DUKE OF LEGGAGH (second, 7f handicap, Naas, Sunday, March 26th)
DUKE OF LEGGAGH improved for a 7f trip and deep ground last backend, running third of 14 at Gowran Park before getting off the mark at the same venue. He continued where he left off on his reappearance, posting a solid 20-1 second to the progressive Paddington in the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan Ad Loretta O’Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap. He was bumped badly in the closing stages and hung to his right. There should be further improvement to come and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on when upped to 1m2f at Navan tomorrow (Wednesday).
ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE (won, 2m4.5f, Grade 2 mares’ limited novices’ handicap hurdle, Newbury, Saturday, March 25th)
Joe Tizzard’s ILOVETHENIGHTLIFE defied top weight in the Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor ‘National Hunt’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Limited Handicap Hdl), keeping on well to deny BLUE EBACH (see above). The five-year-old jumped out to her right on occasions, as she had done when scoring at Ffos Las in October, and could have more to offer when returned to a galloping right-handed venue.
LAUGH A MINUTE (won, 5f handicap, Curragh, Saturday, March 25th)
LAUGH A MINUTE made it four wins from five starts on his second run back from a break of at least 90 days when taking the 5f DMG Media Handicap by half a length from THE HIGHWAY RAT. His record immediately following a win reads 42678 (0-5) and he could be one to oppose at likely short odds next time.
PRESIDENT SCOTTIE (third, 2m1f national hunt flat race, Carlisle, Sunday, March 26th)
PRESIDENT SCOTTIE had done well to run fifth under patient tactics at Ayr on his debut last month and built on that with third place in the Baldwinholme Open National Hunt Flat Race. Nicky Richards’ five-year-old could never strike a blow at the winner and runner-up who raced one-two throughout, though was less than three lengths down at the line. He’ll open his account soon on the evidence of his first two runs.
PRINCESS NAOMI (third, 8.6f handicap Wolverhampton, Saturday, March 25th)
PRINCESS NAOMI was beaten by four and a half lengths when a 9-1 third in the It’s Time To Turn To talkSPORT Handicap at Wolverhampton last Saturday evening but fared best of those to come from off the pace in a race dominated by prominent types. She was also drawn wide in stall 9 of 9 and can be supported next time.
PROBE (won, 6f handicap, Wolverhampton, Saturday, March 25th)
PROBE, making his debut for Jennie Candlish after leaving the care of D3ermot Weld, comfortably landed the 6f BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap in a first-time hood and clocked a fast time in the process. He’s been showed up 6lb to a mark of 90 but was rated higher for Weld after scoring over 7f and 1m on soft turf and should be able to follow up.
ZHIGULI (third, 2m4f handicap chase, Newbury, Saturday, March 25th)
ZHIGULI had jumped out to his right when scoring at right-handed Sandown on March 11th, so it was surprising to see him asked to run left-handed in the Run For Your Money At BetVictor Handicap Chase at Newbury last Saturday. Gary Moore’s eight-year-old went off hard in front given the very soft ground and helped to set the race up for the closers. He was beaten by almost 22 lengths into third but the winner, runner-up and fourth all came from well off the pace and it was a good run in the circumstances. He was 33 lengths clear of the next prominent racer to finish – the Paul Nicholls-trained Espoir De Guye – and can be supported on a right-handed track next time.
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