Monday racing tips: Andy Ayres picks out his NAP for Monday’s racing and fills punters in on the biggest gambles of the week
Don't miss out on the best and most hilarious take on this week's racing from our resident Trackman, Andy Ayres
PAUL Nicholls had a right big dipper of a weekend.
The Don of Ditcheat expected plenty from Dolos (15-2 to 5-1) in Newbury’s feature on Saturday and then managed to beat him with hit-and-miss stablemate San Benedeto.
The winner is a proper Marmite horse, but he’s got any amount of ability and heads to Aintree for the Topham Chase in April.
Trainers have been having a good old whinge about prize money, but only 37 horses turned up for the day’s most valuable card at Kelso.
That gave the track’s managing director the right hump and punters weren’t exactly chipper after two Nicholls hot-pots – Black Corton and Getaway Trump – were beaten odds-on jollies.
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It’s a long old trek up the high road to Kelso from Somerset, and I bet the journey home felt even longer come Saturday night.
By the way, keep your peepers on Nicky Henderson’s bumper horse Chantry House.
This one cost J P McManus the price of a Barratt new build after winning an Irish point-to-point and was the subject of persistently positive whispers before his intended debut at Newbury on Saturday.
The gelding ended up being withdrawn on account of the ground, but I’m told connections had whacked an £80,000 bet on the counter before he was benched.
This one was definitely `expected’ and I reckon a big pay day is just around the corner.
Punters bossed the day at Lingfield where King’s Advice (5-2 to 11-8) and Royal Birth (9-4 to 6-5) landed touches for the good guys.
Shrewd Stuart Williams has spied a £50,000 race at Musselburgh in April for Royal Birth and might head north for that instead of chasing Kachy’s tail in the Sprint Final at Lingfield.
Fanaar (6-4 to 10-11) was bet like a certainty before the Listed Spring Cup, but moves like an old man treading grapes and needed all Jim Crowley’s nous to squeeze home in front.
Jolly Jim has been living the life of Riley over in Dubai and explained that he’s back home to ride William Haggas’ Jahbath in a valuable 10-runner heat at Kempton Park on Wednesday.
Wily William reckons this one is double smart and is using the race as a pipe-opener for the UAE Derby at Meydan on March 30.
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Talking of top Newmarket yards, a few shrewd faces have been sniffing round trying to get fancy prices about Roger Varian’s UAE Jewel for the Derby.
This colt is unraced, but cost more than Mesut Ozil earns in a week and the rumour is he’s pretty smart.
It’s significant that Oisin Murphy nips up to Wolverhampton to ride MOOTASADIR (6.45) tonight, while front-running RAISING THE BAR (4.50) will be hard to catch over at Fakenham.
Trackman's Monday Selection
CAPTAIN DRAKE (3.55 Southwell) was well bet when winning at Uttoxeter in December and looks fairly
treated for his handicap debut.
CAPTAIN DRAKE (3.55) looks the best bet on Southwell’s card. Harry Fry’s big bay bombed through the race when winning last time and is at the right end of the handicap.