Rory Delargy is back with two recommended bets for Monday and a whole host of other betting nuggets worth taking note of.
Recommended bets, Monday October 19
1pt win Sky Power 2.30 Windsor at 9/2 (minimum price 7/2)
1pt win Barossa Red 3.00 Windsor at 7/1 (minimum price 9/2)
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Sky’s The Limit: 2.30 Windsor - Sky Power
The Dark Horse Racing Handicap is a competitive affair on paper, with a number of in-form horses meeting a few who are unexposed. I think a mark of 80 is probably too much for Water’s Edge without a bit of luck, and Twpsyn, who was second to that one here at the last meeting, is not so well drawn as he was then. That pair are opposable, and while Sky Power needs to improve to defy his opening mark, that looks virtually guaranteed. He showed plenty of promise on his sole 2-y-o start on heavy ground, and although below that form when third at Pontefract on his return, that’s a meeting David managed to attend, and his paddock notes confirmed my suspicion that he was not fully wound up that day.
Needing merely to finish in the first half of the field to qualify for a mark, his trainer certainly picked a good race to achieve that and put an edge on his colt, and he shaped better than a 15-length beating would suggest, racing in a poor position, and then running on when switched inside to finish third behind the Frankel colt Tuscan Gaze. Richard Hannon is one of relatively few trainers whose horses can be relied upon to improve on handicap bow, and backing all such debutants from the yard in the past few seasons has been profitable. It almost goes without saying that his horses tend to excel at Windsor, and given he’s been kept to very soft ground so far, this powerfully-built colt should relish the conditions, and looks primed for this first serious test.
Raise A Glass: 3.00 Windsor – Barossa Red
Another who should relish the testing ground at Windsor is Barossa Red, who had plenty of form on the ground for Andrew Balding. He caught the eye of his debut for Dan & Clare Kubler at Redcar last time, and looks set to return to form given the impression he left there. Jack Mitchell, from stall 8, took Barossa Red to the stands side at Redcar, only for the race to be dominated by the smaller bunch who stayed on the far side of the track. He had to work to cross over, and only weakened at the furlong pole as those exertions and the lack of a recent run told, and with all the runners here likely to chart a similar course, he looks value to get back to winning ways having been dropped 1lb for that unfortunate effort.
More To Come: Plenty of Butty 3.10 Plumpton
Plenty Of Butty had gone into plenty of notebooks after his Uttoxeter fourth in August where he travelled very well, but didn’t quite see out the 2½m trip. With that run under his belt, and allowed to drop in trip, he travelled like the best horse throughout his Newton Abbot win last time and could be called the winner a long way out.
He’s been given a 7lb rise for that win, but that still leaves him on a mark that’s lower than his initial handicap mark, and he gives the impression that he can keep progressing. With the ground set to stay on the good side for at least the next day or so, that will suit, and he can win again before the handicapper starts to get a grip on him. I wouldn’t go shorter than his current price, so won’t put him up as an early bet, but if he drifts half a point, I’ll be tempted to have a bet.
For The Notebook: Enrichissant 3.40 Plumpton
Enrichissant is a lovely big chasing type who will undoubtedly win more this season, but he badly needed his first run last year and although he has won on good ground, his improved form came on heavy. He was also fitted with cheekpieces when stepping up last term, and the lack of headgear suggests this is a case of getting his eye in. I suspect we’ll be with him next time, and I have a lot of time for his trainer.
Mum’s The Word: 5.10 Plumpton
My Mum’s Posh is a very solidly built mare and it wasn’t a surprise to see that she needed her first outing (for new yard Noel Williams) after a 15-month absence at Warwick last month, but in the circumstances she ran a decent race, getting outpaced before staying on late to grab fifth, hitting the line running. It wasn’t a surprise that a step up in trip suited her either, given her dam, Posh Bird, stayed very well (she was a North Yorkshire National winner in her day) and although her future probably lies in staying contests over fences, she’s not without a chance of taking this low-grade handicap.
Posted at 1800 BST on 19/10/2020
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
