We are counting down the days towards the first classics of the season and a huge weekend of racing but before we get there, there are some other betting opportunities to explore. The first of those comes on Wednesday where there is a card at Pontefract. Two races on the card appeal to us.
18+. UK+IRE New Customers Only. Available for a limited time. Min deposit £5. Certain payment methods and cashout excluded. Winning bets paid in cash based on the normal price on our website. Enhanced odds paid in £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days. Free bet stake not returned. T&Cs Apply
3.55 Pontefract
Preview
A Class 4 handicap over a mile at the stiff Yorkshire track. There is plenty of rain around so we need to be siding with horses that will go on the ground but, arguably, of more importance is a low draw as the first turn comes very soon after they break from the stalls.
Main Bet
It might not be the best way to whittle down a big field but I’ve discounted anything drawn 8 or higher & this leaves us with 2 that interest me at the prices. The first of those is Frankster who was 4th of 15 in this grade over course & distance just over a week ago. The first 5 home then were drawn 6-2-5-1-4; that in itself shows the importance of the draw. What I liked about that performance was that only 2 of the field had the benefit of a recent run & they finished 2nd & 3rd. So, of the 13 making their seasonal reappearance, only Gulf Of Poets finished in front & he’s gone on to win again off a 6lb higher mark.
He races off the same mark here & the ground is likely to be a little softer which should suit based on his last 2 runs last term (both here) where he finished 1st & 2nd, albeit in maidens. He had the cheekpieces on for those 2 runs & they are reapplied here which is another good sign. With the track, going & draw all in his favour, I’m expecting him to go well.
Outsider
At a bigger price, I cannot resist a dabble on ex-Irish trained horse Remember The Days. A 4 year old who didn’t race as a 2 year old, he’s a winner of 2 of his 9 starts. He won a Dundalk maiden on his debut & has since then proved himself to be a tough handicapper with a win & a couple of 2nd spots to this name. Admittedly, he’s gone off the boil on his last 2 starts with no apparent reason but, ignoring that, he looks incredibly well handicapped off a mark of 78 having won off 81 3 starts back.
He has since moved yards & his current stable are in great form and, with a good draw in 6, could prove better than the market suggests. He’s no issues on the stamina front either which is a positive on this stiff track and, whilst not having raced on soft ground, breeding suggests it will be fine.
Tips
Back Frankster (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 BetVictor BOG (¼ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
Back Remember The Days (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 17.00 Bet365 BOG (¼ odds 1-4)
4.30 Pontefract
Preview
Another Class 4 handicap but this time over 6 furlongs where, surprisingly to some, the draw isn’t quite as important. Whilst the track turns left handed, it is not as pronounced as the early turn over a mile so horses drawn wider are not as disadvantaged as many believe.
There are some ground or mark concerns over the market leaders and Tawny Port, a horse I did look closely at, is very lightly raced & I’m concerned whether he’s ready for a 2nd run in just over 2 weeks having only raced twice in 18 months.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
I like the bottom weight, Geoff Potts, from a very strong yard that is going well at present. Fitness is on his side having raced twice this year & whilst he’s not yet recorded a win in this grade, his work is workable especially on the prevailing ground.
He gets in here off 68 and one of his 2 handicap wins has come off this mark (the other off 65). Since winning off 65 on his first run for this yard, he finished 5-3-4 on softish ground off a mark of 70. He gets in here off 68. This term, he went well at Musselburgh when finishing 3rd on ground that was almost heavy. That was over the minimum trip which is too short & he got outpaced so only losing out by half a length was a great effort. It’s easy to ignore his next run at Bath as the ground was much too lively.
His form in handicaps for this yard over 6 furlongs on genuine soft ground (his ideal conditions that he gets today) is 1 (off 65) and 3 (off 70). A mark of 68, therefore, looks perfectly reasonable & with no fitness concerns, I’m happy to take the 9/1 on offer.
Tips
Back Geoff Potts (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 William Hill BOG (¼ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
