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.
ABUFFALOSOLDIER, third, 3m handicap hurdle, Cheltenham, Sunday, January 1st
ABUFFALOSOLDIER traded at evens in running for the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle but the 4-1 shot finished almost ten lengths back in third. Perhaps the soft going blunted his finishing effort and he might prove best judged on his record on good to soft or faster going, outside of his seasonal debuts, of 111 (3-3).
AMELIA’S DANCE, fifth, 2m handicap hurdle, Newbury, Saturday, December 31st
Taunton expert AMELIA’S DANCE has a modest record on left-handed tracks and was clearly unsuited to the wide-open spaces of Newbury. She has shown bits and pieces of form left-handed on sharp tracks but the return to right-handed Taunton, where her record reads 11341 (3-5), will obviously suit.
BRINKLEY, pulled-up, 3m handicap hurdle, Cheltenham, Sunday, January 1st
BRINKLEY, sent off at 10-1 in a first-time visor for the 3m Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, never got competitive under a patient ride and was well beaten when pulling up at the last flight. However, the left-handed track wasn’t ideal, and he’s best judged on his record right-handed for current trainer David Pipe of P111 (3-4), improving to 111 (3-3) in cheekpieces.
DULCET SPIRIT, fourth, 7f handicap, Lingfield, Thursday, December 22nd
DULCET SPIRIT, who changed hands for just 1,500gns prior to leaving Marcus Tregoning for Brett Johnson, ran a good race on his debut for new connections. The 40-1 shot got into a battle for the early lead with Healing Power and did well to hold on for fourth behind Free Solo, who followed up on Monday of this week.
GOLD CUP BAILLY, won, 3m handicap chase, Ayr, Monday, January 2nd
GOLD CUP BAILLY, a winner of the extended 2m4f here in late November, drifted from 5-6 to 6-4 favourite, probably because of his lack of winning form over three miles or further. Plenty of pundits/tipsters wanted to take him on, based on the evidence of his Carlisle flop (18-length third when 4-11 favourite) on his previous attempt over this sort of trip but they conveniently overlooked the fact that he hung badly left throughout and clearly hated going right-handed. His record left-handed now reads 2111 (3-4), with the defeat by Ahoy Senor when favourite to beat that one, who is now rated 161.
MIDNIGHT RIVER, won, 2m4.5f Grade 3 handicap chase, Cheltenham, January 1st
MIDNIGHT RIVER, third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his previous start, often bounces back from a defeat to score at the next time of asking and did so at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. His full record following a defeat now reads 3111FF71311 (6-11), whereas his record following a win stands at 24FP3 (0-5). Be wary of taking a short price next time.
POTTERS VENTURE, sixth, 3m handicap hurdle, Wincanton, Monday, December 26th
POTTERS VENTURE was beaten by almost 60 lengths when a 22-1 sixth of 11 at Wincanton on Boxing Day but he jumped markedly out to his left on the right-handed track and can be forgiven this. He can bounce back when next asked to race left-handed.
RANGER THUNDERBOLT, seventh, 1m2f novice stakes, Lingfield, Thursday, December 22nd
RANGER THUNDERBOLT had shown promise in mid-division over one mile at Kempton on his first two starts, finishing a 28-1 sixth of 13 and 28-1 fifth of nine, but was sent off at 80-1 for the 1m2f talkSPORT Download The App Novice Stakes at Lingfield just before Christmas. He wasn’t helped by racing on the inside rail and shaped better than his ten-length seventh suggested. Look out for him on his handicap debut, ideally back at Kempton where his sire, Dragon Pulse, gets plenty of winners.
SHAKEM UP’ARRY, fifth, 2f Grade 3 handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday, January 1st
SHAKEM UP’ARRY won well at Exeter on last month’s reappearance and was sent off as the 11-2 favourite for the Grade 3 Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase. He looked likely to be involved at the finish when challenging after the third last but weakened into an 11-length fifth of 16. He has never won back-to-back races and his record in fields of 12 or more runners now reads 3220448035 (0-10), suggesting that he could bounce back in a smaller field next time.
THE LATE LEGEND, 11th, 2m7.5f handicap hurdle, Uttoxeter, Saturday, December 31st
THE LATE LEGEND needed November’s comeback run at Ludlow where he finished a 45-length sixth of eight and he’ll come on again for last week’s 11th of 14 when 25-1 for the John Pye Auctions Handicap Hurdle. Last term, he had two spins over hurdles before returning to fences with a 12-1 second of 17 at Exeter and he’ll be very interesting over the larger obstacles next time. He’s suited by tracks with easy fences, as he can back off them at times, and I’d love to see him return to Sedgefield where he’s unbeaten in three chase outings.