GG tipster Andrew Mount reveals his top 10 eyecatchers from the past week’s action, including one who he’s keen to back next time out after being hampered at Cheltenham’s November Meeting.
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COBRA COMMANDER (fifth, 2m7f handicap chase, Taunton, Thursday, November 16th, 2023)
COBRA COMMANDER was beaten by a little over 22 lengths when only fifth of 14 in the Save our Sport Sign The Petition Handicap Chase (the same race as Getthepot – see below) but fared best of those to race up with the strong early pace and this was a solid effort in the circumstances. The Tom Symonds-trained nine-year-old seems happiest on good ground and might prove best in the spring, having recorded form figures in April of 114 (2-3), with the wins at 12-1 and 4-1 and the defeat at 25-1. He’s now 0-23 in other months, though has numerous placed efforts to his name in February and March.
CUPID’S DREAM (third, 1m novice stakes, Kempton, Wednesday, November 15th, 2023)
The inside of the track looked the place to be at Kempton last Wednesday and Charlie Appleby’s newcomer CUPID’S DREAM (stall 7 of 13) deserves a mention for his close-up third after a wide trip in the Unibet Zero% Mission/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes. He stayed on strongly down the outside to finish just half a length behind the winner and can be supported next time.
FAIRFIELD FERRATA (third, 3m Listed mares’ chase, Market Rasen, Thursday, November 16th, 2023)
FIRFIELD FERRATA out-ran her odds when an 18-1 (from 33-1) third in the Rhino.Bet Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen last week. Jedd O’Keeffe’s seven-year-old looked like she might cause an upset for much of the race, trading at odds of 2.4 in-running and now has form figures on her second start of the season of 1113 (3-4). Her two best RPRs (Racing Post Ratings) have come on her two runs this term (both 127) and she should find another race when her sights are lowered.
GETTHEPOT (seventh, 2m7f handicap chase, Taunton, Thursday, November 16th, 2023)
I was confident that GETTHEPOT would go close at least in the 2m7f Save our Sport Sign The Petition Handicap Chase but the David Killahena & Graeme McPherson-trained eight-year-old trailed home in seventh of the 14 runners. However, he raced up with the strong early gallop and the six who beat him were described by the Racing Post as ‘towards rear’, ‘midfield’ ‘towards rear’, ‘towards rear of midfield’, ‘in touch with leaders’ and ‘towards rear of midfield’. Best right-handed, his record in this direction since undergoing wind surgery now reads 122127 (2-6).
LITTLE HERON (fourth, 1m fillies’ novice stakes, Kempton, Wednesday, November 15th, 2023)
Those who raced prominently from low draws dominated in the 1m Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes, with the first three drawn 1, 2 and 3 of 13 (6-1, 20-1 and 20-1) for a Tote Trifecta of £1875.90 to a £1 stake. Michael Bell’s 66-1 debutante LITTLE HERON (stall 11) was beaten by almost eight lengths into fourth, but this was a solid introduction under a patient ride from her wide draw.
OFF TO A FLYER (11th, 2m5f handicap hurdle, Cheltenham, Friday, November 17th, 2023)
OFF TO A FLYER was widely tipped for the 20-runner Lycett’s Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday but Joe Tizzard’s 17-2 chance was badly hampered by a faller two out when still in with a squeak and came home in 11th place, almost 20 lengths behind the winner. The six-year-old jumped out to his left when turned over at odds of 8-15 at Exeter last February and went on to score at Ayr in the spring – his only start on a left-handed track outside of his seasonal debut. Next time.
POET’S PRIDE (sixth, 7f handicap, Dundalk, Wednesday, November 15th, 2023)
POET’S PRIDE, a 26-race maiden on turf, tends to pop up once a year on the all-weather and though only sixth of 14 in the 7f Gateway Hotel Dundalk Race & Stay Handicap last Wednesday he’s worth bearing in mind for early next year. His record at Dundalk in February/March reads 4138318419 (3-10).
QAMARI (third, 8.6f fillies’ restricted novice stakes, Wolverhampton, Friday, November 17th, 2023)
Early pace was the key ingredient in the Ste Deposit Limits At BetMGM Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton, with the winner (‘prominent, headway to lead over 1f out’) and runner-up (‘led’) on the front end throughout. James Tate’s newcomer QAMARI ran a cracker from off the pace to finish third and can be supported next time.
RATAFIA (second, 7f handicap, Newcastle, Tuesday, November 14th, 2023)
The stands’ rail bias, favouring high draws on the straight course (distances of 5f-1m), is very strong at Newcastle this winter and Michael Herrington’s RATAFIA deserves extra credit for his short-head runner-up effort to Keep Me Stable in the 7f BetMGM – Stay Golden With Responsible Play Handicap at Newcastle last Tuesday. Sent off as the 11-8 favourite, the hat-trick seeker had a difficult draw in stall 2 and challenged much wider than the winner, who followed up five days later.
REVOLUTIONISE (sixth, 7f handicap, Chelmsford, Thursday, November 16th, 2023)
REVOLUTIONISE returned from a seven-month lay-off with a respectable 22-1 sixth in the 7f 2024 CCR Membership Available Handicap under Luke Catton. The seven-year-old, who drifted from 12-1, kept keeping on well to finish just over three lengths behind the winner and will surely improve for this outing. He’ll find a race or two this winter, perhaps when Jason Hart, whose record on him reads 1118212 (4-7), is back in the saddle. It’s always worth noting that he has a fine record in the month of January, with form figures of 1112272 (3-7).
10 To Follow – Andrew Mount’s Horses To Follow For The 23/24 Jumps Season
The 2023/24 Jumps Season is underway and we’ve got all our team to give their ’10 to follow’ for the NH season. GG’s chief tipster Andrew Mount is the next to give his selections, which include two runners from champion trainer Paul Nicholls yard, as well as last season’s Irish Grand National winner. BYKER (Charles…
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