Andrew Mount knocked in an excellent 8/1 winner on Wednesday and he’s back with his three best bets for the action on Thursday 2nd October…
Posted: 3.55pm, Wednesday, October 1st
1.55 Nottingham – WILLOW WOOD (1pt win, 11/2 bet365)
Charlie Appleby’s ENCHANTED QUEEN has been beaten at odds of 5-4 and 4-7 in her two starts to date and I wouldn’t be rushing to back her at 10-11 here – the opening price with bet365 when they priced up on Wednesday afternoon. I’d rather take a chance on the Ed Walker-trained WILLOW WOOD, despite the daughter of Wootton Bassett going down by 12 lengths when only sixth of ten at Haydock on her debut earlier this month. As mentioned previously in this column, her trainer has a fine record when second time out two-year-olds, including 26 winners from 129 runners (20.2% strike-rate) with the fillies (+£26.07 to a £1 level stake at SP, +£52.40 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). Her sire gets plenty of second time out juvenile winners on turf, with 38 of the 132 qualifiers (28.8%), albeit they returned a small loss at SP (-£7.45) and just a profit of £3.35 at BSP.
2.35 Bellewstown – BEAT THE DEVIL (1pt e/w – 10/1 generally)
Mowgli, who caught the eye under a hold-up ride when fifth of 15 at pace-favouring Listowel last week, did this column a favour when scoring at Bellewstown yesterday and the form of that race was further boosted when runner-up Nibras Rainbow chased him home. The patiently-ridden sixth from that race – Micasso – also advertised the form when a half-length 9-1 second of 13 at Cork on Tuesday, as did eighth home Alex Belarado, second (3-1 from 9-1) at Ayr on the same day. Today, it is the turn of Listowel seventh BEAT THE DEVIL who was described by the Racing Post as “towards rear, stayed on final furlong” when 22-1 for that 7f heavy-ground contest. Pat Magee’s three-year-old was making his handicap debut that day and should have improvement to come, assuming that he actually takes his chance (he’s been scratched on four previous occasions, the same number as his actual runs).
3.00 Nottingham – AKABUSI (1pt win – 14/1 bet365)
We have the smallest ever field of the 6f Class 2 Grassroots Series Final Nursery and it might be worth chancing AKABUSI, initially priced up as the 14-1 outsider of six. Michael Keady’s gelding finish3ed last of eight when 20-1 for a Class 5 nursery at Yarmouth last time but that was over 7f and he simply didn’t stay the trip under a forcing ride in a first-time visor. His two runs here at Nottingham produced a mid-July win from Willowinghurn (a winner at Musselburgh yesterday) and a half-length 11-1 second to Black Endeavour. Top weight KESTA will be popular after his third of 20 in a Newmarket Sales race that has thrown up winners, but he may have been flattered under a prominent ride from a favourable high draw.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
1.55 Nottingham – WILLOW WOOD (1pt win, 11/2 bet365)
2.35 Bellewstown – BEAT THE DEVIL (1pt e/w – 10/1 generally)
3.00 Nottingham – AKABUSI (1pt win – 14/1 bet365)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Thursday, 2nd October
Andrew’s Angles – How to use Nigel Twiston-Davies’ early season form to your advantage
Tomorrow, September gives way to October and, later this month, the peak jumps season will be upon us with the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow (Friday 10th-Sunday 12th) and Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting (Friday 24th – Saturday 25th). One trainer who can be expected to shine at this time of year is Nigel Twiston-Davies and…
Tue 30 Sep 2025Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.