The flat racing scene in the UK continues on Sunday when there are two meetings taking place as well as another one over in Ireland. All the attention at the end of the week will be on the Guineas but before then there are more bets to be had.
After a couple of winners and a pair of places from four bets on Saturday we are keen to strike while the iron is hot so speak and after scouring the cards we have picked out two bets from the Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting in Musselburgh.
5.15 Musselburgh
Preview
As with all races in the Sunday Series, this is a competitive handicap over a trip of a mile and a half. We have a maximum field of 14, headed by Notimeforanother. He’s a winner of 2 of last 3 starts, including a handicap last time out but it’s hard to know he’ll take to the switch to turf, a 6lb hike in the weights and a rise in grade. Arrange has been very consistent on turf, with form figures of 224132 last season. She’s also won here so if ready to go, she could run a nice race. Knightswood didn’t pull up any trees last term so hopes are pinned on the gelding operations bringing about improvement whilst A La Francaise has a tough mark to contend with.
Betting
Ravenscraig Castle – Despite an 8 month absence, I’m siding with this Scottish trained runner who, despite finishing his season in average form, has a great opportunity to make amends today. I’m not worried about the absence given he’s won a handicap at 8/1 off a similar mark and, last season, was a relatively close 3rd in a handicap off fully 7lbs higher. He had a cracking 3 year old campaign where he kicked off by winning a pair of handicaps off 69 and 73 (races off 80 today) but has been winless since. That said, he was then 3rd of 22 in a Class 2, 2nd of 5 in a Class 3 and 4th of 13 in another Class 2, the last of which was off a career high 87. After his debut run last term, he twiced finished down the field over distances that, to me, seemed a little far but, in between that, ran a great race at Ayr to finish just over a length back in 4th in a Class 2. He actually looked the most likely winner a furlong and a half out so this slightly shorter trip could benefit. Given he’s 6lbs and 2 grades lower today, a repeat of that should put him right there at the business end today. A 9th of 17 in the Old Newton Cup is better than it looked because he hit the front under 2 furlongs out before fading with the soft ground not helping. I’ll ignore his most recent run at York where he was very awkward leaving the stalls and basically lost all chance at the start. With cheekpieces retained and his good record fresh, the class dropper has solid claims in an open event.
Tips
Back Ravenscraig Castle (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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6.15 Musselburgh
Preview
Another maximum field, this time with 12 runners, for another tough Class 4 handicap around the turning 7 furlongs. Having finished 3rd on reappearance at Redcar, Maywake is the favourite having been eased 1lb. The concern is that he appears to be a better horse on a softer surface than is likely today. On A Session is well handicapped but struggles to get his head in front so is not a betting proposition whilst Mister Bluebird has claims given his record fresh. Gioia Cieca has a chance and, at a bigger price, Manigordo shouldn’t be totally written off.
Betting
Yaaser – The key to the selection is ground, he really just does not handle soft. He improved from run to run in a busy campaign last season seeing his mark go from a low of 52 to a high of 85. He had mid-season form of 112242114, all on ground with good in the going description. The most recent of those wins was off 71 (he races off 76 today) but it was in a higher grade (Class 3). Since then, his form hasn’t been as good but there are excuses. He ran a close 3rd in the Racing League on the all weather at Newcastle off 5lbs higher and was 4th of 14 at Haydock off that same mark over a mile. In that race at Haydock, he looked the winner just over a furlong out but didn’t really see out the trip and certainly looks better over 7. At York on his last run, he was 12th of 19 but the ground was good to soft, with soft in places, and after travelling well near the rear, he travelled into contention albeit off the pace & then never picked up on the sticky ground. It was a similar story on reappearance where the soft ground was against him and he finished last. He’ll be a different proposition this time around as the ground is better, he’ll strip fitter for the run and is down in grade and mark. In 21 career starts, he’s won 4 and finished 2nd 3 times; today’s jockey has been on top for 9 of those 21, and has won 3 and been 2nd 3 times. In the 3 runs out of the places, 2 were on soft ground and he was 4th in the other, just over a length back. At a nice price, he looks to have a great chance if the rain stays away.
Tips
Back Yaaser (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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