BBOTD – April 21st

James Boyle
April 21, 2012

No success on the last day of posting, which was Tuesday. Moynahan ran a cracking race to finish 4th at 20/1 and I can't have any complaints at all. There's every chance that he'll come on even further for that run and I doubt that connections were expecting a whole pile seeing as he drifted out to a massive price on the exchange. He will remain of interest for the season, especially when lining out at Goodwood again.

There's always a hard luck story that I get to moan about and Sutton Veny was the one on this occasion, because she just couldn't get any sort of a run through the pack. Her draw on the wide-outside proved to be a massive handicap, as she couldn't get a position early on and ended up being held-up in rear, which isn't ideal for her. If she was drawn low and could have got that prominent position, she'd have taken a lot of beating but such is racing and it wasn't to be. She's a sprinter to follow when getting her conditions.

-4.00pts on the day. Form of last 10 selections; 4-3-9-4-0-1-1-U-4-7 (2 winners & 1 place).

Back in action after my trip to Cheltenham and hopefully we'll be landing on a few winners before too long. I didn't get going on Twitter because my battery died at the track but I wouldn't have put anyone onto the winners, so it was a good thing really! I also haven't got a chance to get back to anyone who e-mailed me and will do so as soon as possible. Today's racing is quite tricky, and all I've managed to find is a few tentative selections. Apologies for the short write-ups as well, it's just that I'm wrecked tired and don't have the energy to ramble on as usual. I'll be back to normal soon enough though! Have a good 'un folks.

 

2:10 Thirsk - Northern Fling - 1pt @ 8/1 (Bet365, Powers; 7/1 General)

Quite a trappy race in which you can give a chance to many but Northern Fling is the one that's catching my eye and it will be interesting to see what way the market will speak. Jim Goldie's charge is now an 8-year-old but he seems to have plenty of ability despite that and should prove to be a lively competitor here if connections have him readied for what is his first outing since November. Last year didn't go to plan for him but he does return off a career-low mark and has a first-time visor applied, which is rather interesting. The horse has shaped as if he could do with a bit of sharpening up and if the visor has the desired effect, a big run should be on the cards. My main worry is the likelihood that 7f at this sharp track will not be far enough for him, but the testing ground will be a help and a solid gallop looks likely. It may prove that he's just too good for this field if fully wound up and 8/1 is a bit big. I'm only going to play a minimal win bet because the price isn't big enough to justify having anything more on given the obvious risks and here's hoping that the market will speak in our favour, because Goldie will surely punt him if he's fancied. There is plenty in the horses favour and he will go close if he's trying. That's the worry tho', and it's a big one.

 

Result - 10th @ 12/1; Easy to back and ran accordingly. Disappointing.

 

3:15 Thirsk - Mass Rally - 1pt @ 14/1 (Hills; 12/1 General)

Mass Rally isn't the most straightforward of animals but he's talented on his day and could have a say in proceedings here if coming on for his spin on the all-weather six weeks ago. On that occasion, Michael Dods' 5-year-old was never seen to be in with a chance but 6f around Wolverhampton is never going to see him to best effect and I thought that it was an encouraging return to action, all things considered. Just how forward Dods will have his charge at this early stage of the season is beyond me, but the horse does like some cut in the ground and has no excuses with regard to race conditions. The likelihood of a good gallop will play right into his hands as well and Thirsk is the sort of track that should suit him. The visor that he usually wears was left off last time out and is back on again today, which is hopefully an indication that he'll be "on the job", so to speak. I've no doubts that he's good enough to win a race of this nature despite being rated 90 and a lot just depends on whether he'll follow through with his effort, as he just doesn't look keen on occasions. Paul Mulrennan hopping up for the first time is no bad thing though and he could be in for a good ride here with a bit of luck. 14/1 is a few points too big and I'll play a minimal win stake again. It's a very tricky race to solve but this fellow could give it a good crack if all's well.

 

Result - 14th @ 13/2; Well supported but didn't show up today at all.

 

3:45 Newbury - Fury - 2pts @ 6/1 (General)

I won't be winning any prizes for originality by siding with Fury here, but he looks like the most likely winner to me and 6/1 looks a little on the large side. Winning a race as competitive as this off top weight will be no easy task, but William Haggas' 4-year-old gelding could prove to be a class above anything he faces in this contest and looks nicely handicapped off a mark 0f 99. As a juvenile, this well-bred animal won both of his starts, including an impressive victory in one of the big sales races at Newmarket on soft ground (7f). Things didn't pan out for him during his 3-year-old campaign and he really looked like a shadow of his former self. However, connections had him gelded over the winter and that seemed to work the oracle as he ran a cracker on his only outing this season. That came in the Lincoln over a mile at Doncaster, a race in which he was a running-on 3rd of 22, beaten by just a length. The way in which he travelled was quite encouraging considering that the ground would have been on the lively side for him and I'm fairly sure that he'll be much more comfortable of today's easier surface. The handicapper has put him up a pound for that run but that wouldn't bother me at all and assuming that the horse doesn't have to be fresh to be at his best nowadays, I reckon that he'll be able to run an even better race. That should be enough to see him go very close here if his sit in stall 21 doesn't prove prohibitive and I'm happy enough to take a punt at 6/1. He's worth a small/medium sized stake because, quite simply, he's overpriced to my eye.

 

Result - 2nd @ 6/1; Ran a stormer and was a bit unlucky not to win.