It’s an all-weather day on Friday, with Chelmsford, Lingfield and Newcastle hosting the three cards on the day. Andrew Mount gives you his best bets to begin the weekend on a high.
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Posted: 8:46am, Thursday, April 17th
3.35 Newcastle – DILIGENT HARRY (1pt win – 13/2 William Hill, 6/1 bet365, Ladbrokes)
DILIGENT HARRY was a little underwhelming in his first two starts this winter but showed more when third to Ferrous in a 6f handicap at Southwell last time and the switch from cheekpieces to first-time blinkers could help. Clive Cox’s seven-year-old has a seven from 14 record on the all-weather and his trainer’s handicappers are profitable to back blind in this headgear (14 winners from 111 bets in the past 20 years for a profit of £26.25). Diligent Harry’s three previous course runs have produced form figures of 311 (2-3), with the sole defeat in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes back in June 2021 when poorly drawn in stall 2 (first five finishers drawn 12, 10, 2, 9 and 8 of 13). He looks set to get the run of things out in front, his stall 13 draw could prove advantageous, and this race is lacking any other obvious pace angles. Throw in the forecast tailwind and he could be difficult to pass. MARSHMAN (stall 10), who raced closer to the early pace than ideal when third at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting, looks the biggest threat, though GOLDEN MIND (stall 15), two from two at this trip below Listed level, would also have a squeak in first-time blinkers and I’ll probably combine the trio in a combination Tote Exacta.
4.30 Chelmsford – UNCLE DON (1pt e/w – 20/1 Betfair, Paddy Power, 16/1 generally)
The bias on the straight course was stronger than ever at Redcar’s meeting on October 5th, with a GoingStick reading of 7.0 on the far side but only 5.7 on the stands’ rail, suggesting that high-drawn runners had little chance. It was surprising that only Invictus Gold (stall 20 of 20) was pulled out of the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy but far from surprising to see low draws dominate, with the first six coming from stalls 5, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 4. Richard Fahey’s UNCLE DON (stall 13) emerged best of the high draws in seventh place and looks set for a good season. His three other juvenile runs produced a 5f Beverley win and a pair of runner-up efforts, including in a 14-runner Listed contest at Ayr and he makes plenty of each-way appeal today.
4.42 Newcastle – HEATHEN (1pt win 14/1 generally)
HEATHEN is up in trip/class after landing a 1m6f handicap at Wolverhampton last time and it’s tempting to conclude that he doesn’t stay two miles, as his two previous runs at this distance for current handler David O’Meara resulted in defeats at Southwell – a 10-1 seventh pf 13 and fourth of five when starting as the 6-5 favourite. However, both those runs came after a recent outing (14 and 31 days respectively) and the six-year-old seems far happier with longer breaks between his races. He’s won four of his eight starts when rested for at least six weeks, including form figures for his current yard of 111 (3-3), with the wins, all on Tapeta, at 11-2, 9-2 and 9-4. He raced here twice when trained by Ed Dunlop, scoring by almost four lengths over the extended 1m4f trip on the first of those visits and fading into eighth of ten after pulling hard over 1m2f in the other. Today’s big field and likely decent gallop will suit and he’s worth a punt at a big price.
5.30 Chelmsford – GOLDEN GARDEN (2pt win – 9/1 bet365)
The Jamie Osborne-trained GOLDEN GARDEN, well held at Southwell on his debut last October, took a step forward at Kempton the following month when a 100-1 five-length sixth of 12 to Ralph Beckett’s Aurel. Charlie Appleby’s narrow runner-up Bedouin Prince went one better at Doncaster on his reappearance last month, while third-placed Family Knight, trained by Richard Hughes, was a winner at Lingfield on his next outing. Golden Garden continued his steady progression with a 28-1 fourth behind 8-15f Saddadd at Southwell next time, form boosted by runner-up Royal Favour who has since scored in Meydan. Gelded ahead of his three-year-old and handicap debut, the son of Medaglia d’Oro looks a likely improver given his trainer’s solid record with such types. Since the beginning of 2002, backing the yard’s handicap debutants would have found 66 winners from 564 bet (11.5% strike-rate) for a profit of £126.06 to a £1 level stake at SP and the last two qualifiers who were also running first time after a gelding operation, as Golden Garden is, have won at 11-4 and 3-1 (Ray Gun, tipped in this column) after being heavily backed.
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Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
3.35 Newcastle – DILIGENT HARRY (1pt win – 13/2 William Hill, 6/1 bet365, Ladbrokes)
4.30 Chelmsford – UNCLE DON (1pt e/w – 20/1 Betfair, Paddy Power, 16/1 generally)
4.42 Newcastle – HEATHEN (1pt win 14/1 generally)
5.30 Chelmsford – GOLDEN GARDEN (2pt win – 9/1 bet365)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Friday, 18th April
Andrew’s Angles – How to Find Early-season Profits with Two-Year-Olds
With Cheltenham and Aintree behind us I’m going to turn my attention to the Flat turf season and attempt to identify some profitable angles. Two-year-old races can be a turn-off for punters at this time of year as we’re usually dealing with a host of unraced horses but there are plenty of winner-finding angles… Foaling…
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