GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his list of eyecatchers from the past week’s racing. Find out which runners he wants to keep onside below, alongside bet365‘s new customer offer of £50 in Free Bets when you deposit £10.
BALLINTOY HARBOUR, sixth, 5f handicap, Southwell, Monday, August 29th
BALLINTOY HARBOUR was one from one on the all-weather (a 5f novice win at Newcastle in April of last year) prior to his run at Southwell on Monday. He’s always been best on stiff tracks – his other two wins have come on turf at Pontefract and Newmarket’s July course – so flat Southwell was unlikely to suit. He finished a respectable sixth of 11 and will be of interest on a stiff track next time.
BRAZEN BOLT, won, 7f handicap, Epsom, Monday, August 29th
John Quinn’s BRAZEN BOLT scored more easily than the three-quarter of a length margin implied and, since the beginning of last August, his handicap record now reads 1121312201341 (6-13), with the ‘duck egg’ excusable as he was poorly draw in a huge field at York. This consistent sort can follow up if making a quick return to action at Thirsk on Saturday.
BRIAN THE SNAIL, non-runner, 7.5f handicap, Beverley, Saturday, August 27th
BRIAN THE SNAIL was due to make his debut for Patrick Morris in the 7.5f Class 4 handicap that opened Beverley’s card last Saturday but was pulled out because the ground, officially ‘good’, was deemed unsuitable. Coincidentally, he was also poorly drawn in stall 11 of 12. His new handler has done well with Dr Marwan Koukash-owned runners who switch from the Richard Fahey yard and Brian The Snail can usually be relied upon to run his race in Class 4 or lower grade, recording form figures of 11131408 (4-10) for a profit of £6.90 to the usual £1 stake.
HARDY ANGEL, second, 6f restricted novice stakes, Ripon, Monday, August 29th
HARDY ANGEL, the 20-1 outsider of six, very much caught the eye on his third career start, keeping on well from off the pace to grab second place on the line. He had a 4-1 stablemate behind him and he’ll be very interesting when switched to nursery company. The step up to 7f and/or softer going could also bring about improvement.
MARWARI, won, 6f handicap, Southwell, Monday, August 29th
The Mick & David Easterby-trained MARWARI has done extremely well on Southwell’s Tapeta surface since the headgear was left off, recording form figures of 1151 (3-4), with excuses for the defeat (he was poorly drawn towards the stands’ side in a 5f handicap). The six-year-old only prevailed by a short head this time but was conceding plenty of weight to three-year-old runner-up SLATE CRACKER and the pair pulled two and a half lengths clear of he third. He’s 0-14 on turf and it’s surprising that the handicapper hasn’t given him a separate mark for that surface.
MOTAGALLY, 12th, 5f Listed race, Beverley, Saturday, August 27th
I’ve been banging on for years about how MOTAGALLY needs to go left-handed and Beverley was never going to suit. He trailed home in 12th of 13 but was 40-1 on his first start for 320 days and we can expect better things when he races left-handed. Scott Dixon – who has yards on the track at Southwell and Wolverhampton – surely has him earmarked for an all-weather campaign this winter and he’ll be a major player in the Group/Listed sprints. His record left-handed reads 131111 (5-6), with excuses for the defeat.
THE GOLDEN REBEL, third, 2m4.5f handicap chase, Bangor, Tuesday, August 23rd
THE GOLDEN REBEL jumped abysmally throughout, with his jockey blaming the gelding’s slip on the first circuit. It’s possible that he simply didn’t like the track and that we should be wary of backing him away from Doncaster, where his record reads 11F (2-3). The peak jumps season is a few months away but bear him in mind when returned to Town Moor.
THE TRON, fourth, 5f handicap, Chelmsford, Thursday, August 25th
THE TRON’s patient running style was at a disadvantage in this 5f Class 6 handicap and he did well to stay into a two-length fourth from a poor draw in stall 9 of 10. Both his wins have come on Tapeta and he’ll be of interest on that surface next time. He’s entered in the 7.30 at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
WHITE WILLOW, won. 1m2f handicap, Epsom, Monday, August 29th
WHITE WILLOW had allowed the winner to get first run when second of four at Ayr last time and went one better. The stronger gallop and bigger field (eight ran) clearly helped and, since her debut, her record in fields of eight or more runners reads 1101 (3-4), with the defeat at York when possibly not handling the track. She can follow up.
YAAHOBBY, third, 5f handicap, Southwell, Monday, August 29th
YAAHOBBY ran a big race against the draw/pace in this 5f handicap on his return from wind surgery. The first two finishers disputed the lead from their favourable low draws, whereas Antony Brittain’s three-year-old was given a patient ride from stall 8, switching from stands’ side to centre after meeting trouble in running. An 18-1 novice winner at Wolverhampton back in February on his first run for five months, he clearly goes well when fresh – this was his first outing since mid-May – and it will be surprising if he doesn’t add to that in the near future.
Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £40 Free Bets
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org