Daryl Carter has started 2022 well in profit and has two to back on Wednesday. Find out his selections from Exeter and Leicester alongside an exclusive Virgin Bet offer that provides new customers with £20 in free bets.
NEON MOON (1.40 Exeter, 2pt win, 4/1)
The favourite here could be thrown in under a 10lb claimer after shaping well on seasonal return, but his jumping has been poor and wasn’t improved upon on that return, so a chance is given to NEON MOON. David Pipe’s horse shaped extremely well at Cheltenham on reappearance in a hot handicap for the grade and looked the winner turning for home before fading late on (fourth inside the final furlong finished 10th).
That performance has been underestimated here, and with some strong bumper form and an excellent win at Wincanton at the back end of last season, he could be well treated, having been dropped 4lb by the handicapper. That Wincanton form sees the fifth now rated 111, and the third 124. Today’s contest is a drop into class 4 company and a slight drop back in trip. In the hope connections will ride him prominently, he could prove a class above these rivals and Fergus Gillard’s claim eases the burden of top weight.
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APPLESANDPIERRES (2.50 Leicester, 1pt e/w, 10/1)
APPLESANDPIERRES may be a 14yo, but he showed there was a good bit of life left in him yet with an eyecatching performance here eight days ago. This quick turnaround could pay dividends to the trainer Sophie Leech as it did in 2020 when winning this race after ten days between races.
This has clearly been the target, and he did remarkably well from the rear of the field to chase home a runaway leader. He is off a much-reduced handicap mark these days and he loves it here at Leicester with a 2-3 record (latest 3rd). There is absolutely no reason as to why he can’t at least hit the frame. He looks a favourable each-way play.
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Daryl Carter’s Best Bets
NEON MOON (1.40 Exeter, 2pt win, 4/1)
APPLESANDPIERRES (2.50 Leicester, 1pt e/w, 10/1)
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