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.
AHOY SENOR, won, 3m1f Grade 2 Chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, January 28th
AHOY SENOR jumped out to his right as he usually does on left-handed tracks but still managed to win the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase, rallying gamely to regain the lead after dropping back to fourth place at one stage. On paper, he should be suited by right-handed tracks but his record in that direction reads U25 (0-3). Perhaps the key is good to soft or faster going (based on race times, not the official verdict) and fitness (at least two runs in the past three months)? His record under such conditions stands at 11151 (4-5), with the defeat in the King George this season. His record in the spring reads 1121 (3-4), with the defeat by L’Homme Presse in last season’s Brown Advisory and, after being highly sceptical about his Gold Cup prospects, I’m now fully in the Ahoy Senor camp.
LOST IN TIME, fourth, 1m handicap, Lingfield, Saturday, January 28th
LOST IN TIME was a very unlucky loser in the 1m Spreadex Sports Best Premier League Odds Handicap at Lingfield last Saturday. Wearing a hood for the first time (in addition to blinkers) Dean Ivory’s six-year-old was repeatedly denied a clear run before finishing strongly into an 8-1 fourth, just over one length behind the winner. He has only scored once from 20 starts but could go well if making a quick return to action in the 1.20 at Southwell on Thursday.
GG Cheltenham Ante-Post Book – 25th January
Cheltenham ante-post tipster Dave Young (A.K.A Cheltmental) is on hand to give us his A-Z of the Seasoned Hurdler division. He discusses some of the key horses who could be set to line up at the Festival, and which races they could/should be aiming for! Dave has been involved in Antepost betting and the Cheltenham…
Wed 25 Jan 2023MAKE THE PLAN, fifth, 2m maiden hurdle, Fairyhouse, Wednesday, January 25th
It was typically hard to come from off the pace on the hurdles course at Fairyhouse last Wednesday, though cynics might suggest that making ground wasn’t the idea on 33-1 shot MAKE THE PLAN, who caught the eye when a never-nearer fifth in the 2m Easter Festival Early Bird Maiden Hurdle. He ran a similar race when a 100-1 eighth of 27 in High Definition’s maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and he’s going to be something to bet on when handicapping.
MOKA DE VASSY, fifth, 2m4.5f Grade 2 hurdle, Cheltenham, Saturday, January 28th
The Jane Williams-trained MOKA DE VASSY out-ran his 66-1 SP to finish a 12-length fifth of ten in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday, staying on well when the race was all but over. This was his fourth straight run in Grade 1 or 2 company and he’s going to win soon when his sights are lowered.
NELLS SON, sixth, 2m1f handicap hurdle, Cheltenham, Saturday, January 28th
The Nicky Richards-trained eight-year-old NELLS SON, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles at Kelso last March, failed to take to fences and was returned to timber in the 2m1f SSS Super Alloys Handicap Hurdle. Wearing cheekpieces for the first time, the 16-1 shot didn’t see out his race as strongly as the six-year-olds, who have dominated this race in recent years. His seven-length sixth of 15 was still a creditable effort – he was second best of those aged seven plus – and he’ll be very backable at the likes of Ayr and Kelso next time.
RISK D’ARGENT, ninth, 2m handicap chase, Hereford, Monday, January 30th
RISK D’ARGENT, who was making his chase debut, was all the rage for the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Chase, going off as the 100-30 favourite. However, Alastair Ralph’s seven-year-old jumped badly out to his left throughout the two-mile contest and actually did well to complete the course. This was his first ever start on a right-handed track and he’ll be worth another chance when racing in the other direction.
ROOSTER COGBURN, sixth, 2m handicap chase, Ffos Las, Monday, January 23rd
They went too fast for the conditions in the 2m Vickers.Bet Independent Family Owned Bookmaker Handicap Chase and the race was set up for the closers, with the first four home described by the Racing Post as ‘held up in rear’, ‘midfield’, held up in rear’ and ‘towards rear’. ROOSTER COGURN, second best of the prominent racers in sixth, was beaten by 29 lengths but this run is easily forgiven. Both his wins have come at Market Rasen on good ground in spring/summer and he could win again given those conditions.
SALSADA, second, Grade 2 mares’ hurdle, Doncaster, Saturday, January 28th
SALSADA, sent off at 28-1 found only Epatante too good in the Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle. This was her second run back after wind surgery and she finished her race off well, suggesting her handicap mark of 118 will be very exploitable next time.
THOR DE CERISY, fifth, 2m handicap chase, Ffos Las, Monday, January 23rd
THOR DE CERISY, like Rooster Cogburn (see above), did too much too soon in this 2m handicap chase and could only finish a 22-length fifth. However, he fared best of those to race up with the pace and the market could overreact to this performance next time.
YOUR DARLING, pulled up, 2m4.5f handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, January 28th
YOUR DARLING, 6-1 for the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase, was pulled up and his connections could offer no explanation for the poor run. However, this run took his record on left-handed tracks to 1P5P4P (1-6), with the sole success in a Newbury bumper over three years ago where he beat the disappointing Flinteur Sacre into second. On right-handed tracks, he has form figures of 3411315 (4-7), improving to 1131 (3-4) over 2m-2m5f since undergoing wind surgery. He’ll bounce back when asked to race in the other direction.