With Andrew Mount enjoying a well-earned break, GG’s editor Joe Napier takes over to provide his best bets on Friday from Thirsk and Haydock.
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Posted: 4.40pm, Thursday, August 8th
2.10 Thirsk – ROSE OF NEW JERSEY (1pt e/w – 10/1 bet365)
The market focuses on the one-two from a similar race run at Catterick recently, but one who has left a favourable enough impression heading into her handicap debut is ROSE OF NEW JERSEY. The daughter of useful juvenile Advertise has steadily improved on all three starts, showing signs of ability when seventh of 16 at Nottingham when bumped around and still running through the line, then when fourth of ten at Ripon on her latest start. Now that she is qualified for handicaps, there should be a win in her this term given the 5f trip on her last start will have been short of optimum. Her breeding suggests 7f could be ideal, as have her three racecourse appearances so far.
8.32 Haydock – GREAT MAX (1pt e/w – 12/1 bet365)
This is a good competitive handicap, but one to keep a keen eye on is GREAT MAX for David O’Meara, whose last two starts under similar conditions have produced eye-catching finishes. He has been winless in 23 starts since his debut, but he joined O’Meara at the start of this season, and no trainer will have a better eye on getting him back to winning ways in handicap company. He has fallen 6lb this season despite his three runs on good-to-firm over 7f reading sixth of 11 at Newmarket when blowing away the cobwebs, fourth of ten at Doncaster and seventh of 17 latest at York. However, that latest effort is worth upgrading given he missed the break, raced keenly and regularly found his path shut on a track which massively favours prominent racers. He is down another 1lb and his target will be coming soon; this course should suit patient tactics if he can switch off and then pounce.
Joe Napier’s Best Bets
2.10 Thirsk – ROSE OF NEW JERSEY (1pt e/w – 10/1 bet365)
8.32 Haydock – GREAT MAX (1pt e/w – 12/1 bet365)
Joe Napier’s tips for Friday, 9th August 2024.
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