12 minutes I have picked a handful of solid each-way candidates from meetings at Cartmel, Ayr, Windsor and Beverley.
We kick off the week with a number of big-priced selections running on Monday. All the picks listed are priced well enough to back each-way and are considered lively outsiders.
1:42 Cartmel
Cumbria Grand Hotel Handicap Hurdle
HEART ABOVE - 7/1
Heart Above looks poised to go one better than when narrowly denied over course and distance last year and is worth siding with now dropped back to his optimal trip. Dianne Sayer’s seven-year-old has been in solid form this summer, most recently finishing a respectable fourth at Perth over 2m4f. That trip just stretches him and he’s of much greater interest now returning to Cartmel, where he boasts previous strong form in similar company. He went very close here last July on soft ground and shaped as if still in good heart last time, racing keenly and holding his own in a more strongly run race. With that run likely to put him spot on and back on this quirky track that clearly suits, he looks the value play in a competitive heat.
Main danger Lightening Company returns to Cartmel after a decent third here last month and has obvious claims on that run. He's consistent and proven in similar conditions, but this represents a slight drop in class and the market already has him very short. Drumlee Myth is the potential wildcard. Lightly raced over hurdles but with solid bumper form in the book, he makes his handicap debut from what could be a lenient mark. If he's on a going day, he could surprise a few, but he still has to prove he can put it together over obstacles. Elsewhere, Restandbethankful showed some spark when third here on Saturday and looks interesting if turning out quickly under his lower hurdles rating. However, his recent profile is patchy and he’s not the most reliable.
Verdict: HEART ABOVE gets the vote back at a track he runs well at and over his ideal trip. Lightening Company rates the main threat at the head of the market, while Drumlee Myth could outrun his odds if he builds on a more encouraging recent effort.
3:30 Ayr
Fergie & Myra Happel Ayr Gold Cup Trial Handicap
PALS BATTALION - 14/1
In a wide-open contest with depth and pace angles throughout, Pals Battalion looks a strong each-way player with winning potential. His recent form figures may not scream out from the page, but he's quietly holding his form well and shaped with real promise when a closing third at Thirsk 19 days ago. That was a Class 2 contest against some sharper types and he stuck to the task well despite not getting the clearest run. He’s now dropped into a slightly weaker grade, and a replication of that Thirsk effort could put him right in the mix.
A dual all-weather winner over this 6f trip, he’s often been pigeonholed as a synthetic-track horse, but it’s worth noting his novice success came on soft turf and his Thirsk third came on good ground, both suggesting he’s no one-trick pony. Daniel Tudhope retains the ride, and with a midfield draw (stall 7) that offers tactical flexibility, he could get a lovely tow into the race before launching his challenge late. David O’Meara’s sprinters tend to come alive at this time of year and this gelding may have more to come off his current mark.
Almeraq is likely to head the market and is clearly interesting with his Group 1 entry at Haydock still intact. His novice win was dominant and his defeat at Yarmouth came at the hands of a top-class colt. However, stall 1 might not be ideal if things get messy up the rail and he’s still inexperienced in this type of cavalry charge. Wicket Keeper is unexposed and unbeaten in two starts since joining Edward Bethell, including a novice win over this trip at Doncaster. He’s hard to gauge but could take a big step forward now tackling handicaps. The same applies to Magic Basma, who shaped nicely at York in a deep race and looks the type to progress again. Others worth a mention include Monsieur Kodi, who arrives in good heart following a recent Hamilton win and Apotheosis, who drops in trip and might be better suited by this sharper test having raced freely over 7f.
Verdict: PALS BATTALION appeals as a lively outsider in a race where many have questions to answer. He shaped well last time in a stronger contest, handles all ground types and could be peaking at the right time for connections with a solid record in these big-field sprint handicaps. Almeraq is the potential class act but not bombproof, while Wicket Keeper brings untapped potential to the table.
4:05 Ayr
Book Ayr Gold Cup Tickets Now Handicap
HARSWELL DUKE - 9/1
In a wide-open mile handicap, Harswell Duke makes the most appeal from an each-way perspective. He’s been running with real consistency this season and caught the eye when finishing a close fifth over C&D two weeks ago, doing best of those that met trouble in a rough race. That effort confirmed he’s in good nick and with the ground likely to remain on the easy side, conditions should play to his strengths. He’s been nudged down the weights this year and now finds himself back on the same mark he went close off at Beverley in May. David Allan, who knows him well, is back in the saddle and stall 2 looks a good spot to tuck in behind the pace. He’s not always the most straightforward in a finish but has the tools to run a big race at this level and looks well worth chancing at double-figure odds.
Forest Caper is likely to be popular on handicap debut. He’s been brought along steadily and showed clear promise in novices, including a fair third at Thirsk last time without being given a hard time. He’s got the profile of one who could leave his mark behind in time but may need to sharpen up tactically. Penelope’s Sister is thriving and bids for a quick hat-trick after scoring over C&D last week. She’s effectively 5lbs well-in under the penalty and won’t go down without a fight, though this looks deeper and a wide draw tempers enthusiasm slightly. Bowood, a triple winner for his yard last summer, shaped encouragingly at Doncaster and lurks on a tempting mark. He’s another who could easily get involved.
Verdict: HARSWELL DUKE shaped better than the bare result over C&D last time and looks a great each-way bet now back in calmer waters. Forest Caper has potential but may be a work in progress, while Penelope’s Sister remains the biggest threat in her current mood. Bowood is also respected on the back of a return to form.
4:40 Ayr
Try Racing TV For Free Now Handicap
ZEBRA STAR - 9/1
This looks a trappy low-grade handicap with plenty of dead wood, but at the prices, Zebra Star makes plenty of each-way appeal back over the same C&D where she ran a career-best two starts ago. That effort saw her pull six lengths clear with the winner in soft ground and while she couldn't back it up at Hamilton last time, that race developed away from her and she never looked comfortable. She’s only 3lbs higher than that Ayr second and gets Clifford Lee back on board, who was in the saddle for that near miss. Soft ground is a definite positive and a middle draw in stall 5 gives her options in a field lacking obvious pace. If she can reproduce that penultimate effort, she’s more than capable of going close at a price.
Sophiesticate is the clear form horse and will be hard to keep out the frame if reproducing her strong-finishing second over C&D last week. She’s on a workable mark and looks the most solid of the fancied runners, though she has burned a few fingers in the past. Spartan Times arrives seeking a hat-trick and has clearly turned a corner since his novice hurdle success, though both wins came in lesser contests at Ffos Las and he now has a 10lbs hike to contend with. Wyld Bill landed an amateurs’ race last time and is lightly raced for his age, so remains open to improvement back on turf. Falcon Nine has a chance if the ground dries out, while Steps In Time and Cisco Disco have the ability but are proving difficult to catch right.
Verdict: ZEBRA STAR is a big price for one who went so close over C&D just two runs back and could surprise a few if getting similar conditions and luck in running. Sophiesticate sets the standard on recent form and looks the one to beat, while Wyld Bill and Spartan Times are dangers if coping with the rise in class and weight respectively.
7:10 Windsor
Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier)
PHOENIX OF DREAMS - 13/2
Phoenix Of Dreams shaped with plenty of promise on his seasonal return at Ayr earlier this month and is fancied to build on that effort with conditions to suit at Windsor. The John and Sean Quinn-trained four-year-old was having his first run in nine months when a staying-on fourth of 11 at Ayr (6f, good to soft), not knocked about and keeping on well through the line in a race that should work out. That was his first start since a gelding operation and he’s entitled to strip much fitter now. A 6f maiden winner at Redcar last October, Phoenix Of Dreams has always looked the type to do better in handicaps and the way he hit the line at Ayr suggests he can be competitive from this mark of 78. Drawn high in stall 10, he should get a good tow into the race and will appreciate a likely solid pace up front. Jason Hart takes the ride and the yard has been among the winners in recent days.
Expert Agent arrives chasing a hat-trick following wins at Newmarket and Haydock, both over this trip. He’s up 10lbs for those two successes and faces a much deeper field here. That form has depth, but he’s short enough in the betting now and this track presents a new test. Coul Angel has done well on the all-weather this year and ran a career best when fourth at Ascot (6f, good to firm) in May. He didn’t look to stay 7f last time and this stiffer 6f could prove ideal. He looks the main threat. Iconic Times won nicely on the Kempton AW last time out and is lightly raced, but was tailed off at Ascot on his sole turf start. He’s a risky proposition at the prices. Safari Dream completed a hat-trick earlier this summer but was well held over C&D last time out and now looks vulnerable under a career-high mark.
Verdict: PHOENIX OF DREAMS ran better than the bare result at Ayr and looks open to progress second time up. He’ll be suited by a strong pace and appeals as a value play against the market leaders. Coul Angel rates the biggest threat, while Expert Agent looks vulnerable now forced to give weight all round.
8:50 Beverley
Racing Again Next Tuesday Handicap
DR RIO - 11/2
Dr Rio is a Beverley regular who returned to winning ways here over 7.5f last week and looks primed to go close again under a 4lbs penalty. That was a deserved success after a string of solid runs in defeat and while this is a stronger race back over 1m2f, he's a previous course winner at the trip and clearly thrives around this undulating track. The nine-year-old responded well to pressure last time and has now finished first or second on three of his last four runs, suggesting he’s holding his form better than most in this modest field. There should be a decent pace on, which will suit his running style and Zak Wheatley takes a handy 3lbs off again. With conditions in his favour and confidence restored, he has solid each-way credentials in a race lacking strength in depth.
Milteye is a short-priced favourite after getting off the mark for Harriet Bethell at Carlisle, but that was a hard-fought win in soft ground and he’s now 3lbs higher back on a quicker surface. Ribble River has been fairly consistent but remains winless this season and hasn’t always backed up one good run with another, while Whatacracker continues to knock on the door without winning and a new headgear switch suggests connections are still searching for the key.
Verdict: DR RIO goes well at Beverley and arrives in form. He’s weighted to be competitive again and makes plenty of each-way appeal at the prices. Milteye has to be respected but could prove vulnerable at the odds, while Whatacracker is a solid place prospect.
