By Charlie McCann
David Brown’s Mind of Madness (5.25) was a ready winner of a warm Newmarket maiden and the Qatar Racing colt should take all the beating in the Novice Stakes that opens the card at Yarmouth.
He hosed up despite being unfancied in the market and looks sure to be suited, on pedigree at least, by even better ground. The Azamour colt is taken to get the better of William Haggas’ Adaay who was a game winner of a warm Newbury maiden last month; it looks a two horse race on paper.
Mick Channon’s stable tasted success with Highlife Dancer (5.55) at Leicester last Sunday and he should be able to go in again in the mile and a half handicap. The 6-y-o goes unpenalised for his win in an apprentice handicap and with Charles Bishop taking a further 3lb from the former course winner he has to go close.
Elsewhere in the card James Tate’s Genius Boy (6.55) should remain competitive from a mark of 71 despite being a beaten favourite on his last two starts at Beverley and Thirsk. The New Approach colt failed to see out trips over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, pulling hard early and not seeing out his races and it is hoped that the drop down to a mile should see him more amenable, using his energy much more productively.
It has been an excellent season for Sea The Stars progeny with Oaks favourite Taghrooda (5/2 with BetVictor for Friday’s Classic) one of a number of pattern successes and whilst not of that ilk Marco Botti’s Maraayill (8.30) is bred to be much better than that of a 75-rated handicapper.
He has cheek-pieces applied for the first time and is switched to turf after an excellent run at Lingfield when beaten three lengths. Andrea Atzeni rides and with a further pound taken off looks sure to be competitive.
Mark Johnston’s Watersmeet heads the weights for the feature ten furlong handicap over at Ripon and whilst respected, it could be worth taking a chance on Tower Power (2.55) for Ismael Mohammed and Graham Lee.
The Nayef colt makes his debut in handicap company after an excellent second last time out at Nottingham, staying on strongly in the closing stages. He remains well-treated from a mark of 70 and should be prominent from his favourable draw in stall two.
Johnston’s Life and Times has been progressive in handicaps this term but the handicapper looks to have got to grips with him, which is in stark contrast to St Moritz (3.25) for the all-conquering team of David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope.
The pair combined with Penitent on Saturday and should be able to add to the stable’s excellent 30% strike-rate over the last week with further success. The 6-y-o’ hacked up by eight lengths last week at Redcar and should be able to make all again under a 6lb penalty.
There’s jump racing from Southwell where Popaflora (5.40) bids to follow-up his impressive win l9 days ago at Fontwell. The 8-y-o was having his first start for the Dan Skelton yard and was punted like a good thing all afternoon, sent off the 13/8 favourite before bolting up by the best part of 11 lengths. Under a 7lb penalty the gelding is a confident selection.
Kim Bailey and AP McCoy combined with Able Deputy at Fakenham on Sunday and team up with Supreme Present in the mares’ novices’ hurdle however Peter Bowen’s horses remain in excellent form and preference lay with Handmaid (7.10). The mare is a beautifully bred daughter of King’s Theatre who took to hurdling well, winning on debut over obstacles last month at Bangor and should carry on progressing, hopefully at the Champion Jockey’s expense.
For all the latest odds and more head to BetVictor.com
