Hi all,
A poor day yesterday means we’re breaking even on the month. I think there have been a few near misses which would have enabled us to make a small profit in May and give us a third successive winning month. The service is still well up on the year and we could still end May in the black with a winner on Monday.
Monday’s not normally a day for selections for me but it’s a Bank Holiday and the racing isn’t too bad. It’s my final selection of the month so hopefully we can end it on a winning note. I will be back for Oaks Day on Friday.
I have previewed the best of the races at Redcar, Ballinrobe and Cartmel. I’m not going into today too heavily today so should the worse happen and there is no winner it will only be a small lose on the month.
Redcar
4:00 – Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Andrew Balding saddled Good Birthday to win the race in 2021 and he has the bookies early bird favourite in recent Chester winner City Streak. The 4-year-old is just 2lb higher than when winning last time but the ground is going to be a lot quicker.
Mark Johnston won the race three times between 2012 & 2022 and son Charlie saddles previous C&D winner Pillar Of Hope. The lightly raced 5-year-old won over an extended mile at Beverley last month and off just 2lb higher should go close here.
Just one 3-year-old has run in the race since 2008. Oviedo is the sole representative of the classic generation in this year’s race. The colt’s standout piece of form is his 3 ¾ length 3rd of 9 to Chaldean in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. He made a solid return to action in a Newcastle Listed race (1m) at Newcastle last month.
Turntable won twice at Newmarket last autumn for his previous trainer. Better was expected of the 7-year-old on his debut for a new yard at Newmarket last month. He’s better than he was able to show last time especially returned to a sound surface.
Cap Francais is a useful handicapper but not the most consistent. He has however dropped down to 1ln below his last winning mark (Turntable 12lb worse off today). Nicely treated if reviving but was last of 13 at Kempton on his return to action last month. He should be a lot shorter than 25/1 on last season’s winning form but is a 150/1 chance on his Kempton run.
Ballinrobe
Sixteen have been declared for today’s most valuable race either side of the Irish Sea.
6:30 – McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase (Listed Race) – 2m 7f
The Dara Man has a very in and out profile and must prove his stamina for 2m 7f. However, he’s on a good mark if returning from a layoff at his best.
Peregrine Run might be a teenager, but he was a winner at Chepstow when last seen in action in October. He needs good ground to be at his best but when he gets it he remains one to be interested in.
Snugsborough Benny is on a losing run that goes back to 2019. His best effort last season came when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 12 in a handicap chase (3m) at the Punchestown Festival 30 days ago. Not certain to be in the same form here but can’t be taken lightly.
Farceur Du Large hasn’t built on his Punchestown handicap chase success in November and hasn’t completed on his last two starts. The cheekpieces return today and can’t be totally dismissed.
Sole Pretender is a perfect 4 from 4 at Ballinrobe including a beginners’ chase (2m 1f) success at this meeting last year. Good ground is ideal for the 9-year-old but his stamina for 2m 7f must be taken on trust.
Life In The Park is the least exposed over fences of the 16 runners. The 6-year-old won at Limerick on his chase debut last September posted a career best when a 16 length 3rd of 14 to Kilcruit in a 2m 5f handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival last month. The return to further will suit and he’s high on the shortlist.
Cartmel
2:55 – Tony Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 3m 1 ½ f
Recent winners I Spy A Diva and Scrum Diddly head the betting for this stayers handicap hurdle. I Spy A Diva completed an autumn good ground hurdles hat trick last November and was back to winning ways at Warwick 16 days ago. Nudged up 5lb for her latest success but won’t be far away on good ground.
Scrum Diddly bids for a hat trick after good ground wins at Ludlow and Ffos Las. The latest of those successes came just 7 days ago and provided a quick turnaround isn’t an inconvenience looks well treated under a 7lb penalty.
Aramax won the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival when trained by Gordon Elliott. Has struggled for form since but he’s down to a handy mark and ran his best race since joining Ben Haslem when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 13 at Ayr last month. This is his sort of trip these days and trainer Ben Haslem is 3-6 in the past 14 days and a healthy 10-42 24% +112.33 with his runners at Cartmel in the past five years.
My Bobby Dazzler was in good form in 2021 winning three times at Aintree. Hasn’t been at his best since latest success in December 2021 but he hadn’t been disgraced on his last two starts reaching the frame in big field handicap hurdles at Chepstow and Haydock. Capable of going close and must be respected.
Trainer Garry Hammer who has won three of the last four renewals of this race saddles Hillview. The top-weight returned from a 6 month layoff to post a career best on RPR’s when a length 2nd of 9 at Uttoxeter 9 days ago. A 4lb rise demands more of the 7-year-old who goes very well on a sound surface.
Betting Advice:
Redcar
4:00 – Pillar Of Hope – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ballinrobe
6:30 – Peregrine Run – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cartmel
2:55 – Hillview – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Aramax – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John