Saturday 7th September 2017



15:35 Ascot - MJJACK 14/1

 0.5 Points Each-Way

 Despite creeping up the weights for finishing second the last twice, Mjjack makes each-way appeal here. Those last two performances came in valuable handicaps over this course and distance and he still looks like he is progressing with his racing, so despite his higher mark here I expect him to remain competitive. The favourite, Mojito, will likely take all the beating as he has looked up to running in group company but taking a price of around 4/1 in an 18 runner handicap isn't my cup of tea. Worth taking the 5 places 1/5 odds wherever you can.


18:45 Wolverhampton - GULLIVER 7/1

 1 Point Each-Way

Gulliver was in the process of running a very good race last time at Ascot in a better race than this, before hanging badly left in the closing stages. He still managed to finish second and was only headed in the final 75 yards. Connections have gone for a new headgear combination of a tongue tie and cheekpieces which could help to eradicate his wayward ways in the closing stages of the race. The form of Gulliver's penultimate race, at Windsor, sticks out like a sore thumb in the context of this race too, a race where he ran off a mark just 2lb lower than today's. He finished sixth that day beaten 1 3/4 lengths by the winner Ice Age, who went to the Curragh next time out and landed a valuable sprint handicap. Third placed Stake Acclaim has also boosted the form since, after being unlucky at Doncaster next time out he went on to run a huge race in the rearranged Ayr Gold Cup, finishing second. Even the fifth placed horse, Spring Loaded, won the Portland handicap on St Leger day at Doncaster on his next start. So the form is there for all to see, one concern may be that it will be his all-weather debut. However, his sire's progeny have a good strike rate on the all-weather, albeit from a fairly small sample size, with 7 winners from 17 runners on all-weather surfaces. The dam's sire, Mujahid, also has a good record with his progeny on synthetic surfaces, 64 winners from 139 runners (46%).

Take the 4 places at SkyBet as they are also top price as I write this.

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