Pivotman has been shaping far better than his form figures suggest and is of major interest at 17/2 to take advantage of a career-low mark and land the 5.00 at Newcastle today.
The gelding was badly out of sorts last year when trained by Amanda Perrett but has hinted in two starts for Mick Easterby that he is not a lost cause and retains enough ability to win a race of this nature.
In the first of those he caught the eye when 8th of 16 to Dolphin Rock over a mile at Pontefract where he was held-up towards the rear and didn’t get the clearest of runs when trying to make a move a furlong from home.
He was then not knocked about once his chances had gone, and although beaten just over 9 lengths he left the distinct impression that he would improve for the run and leave the form behind at some point.
The five-year-old then put in a similar effort last time out over a mile at Beverley when sixth of 10 to Joyful Sound, where after racing in mid division he chased the leaders two out and kept on at the one pace to be beaten 6 1/2 lengths without being unduly punished.
The handicapper has since dropped him another 3lb to a mark of just 67, and that makes him dangerously well-handicapped on his back form when trained by Perrett.
The son of Pivotal beat Carlton House by 4 lengths on his racecourse debut back in 2010 and after a slow start his form took off at the end of the 2011 season. He bolted up by 8 lengths when making all to land a handicap at Ffos Las off 83 and than ran a stormer when attempting to follow-up off 10lb higher (93) in an ultra competitive hot handicap at Newbury.
The gelding went down by just 3/4 of a length to Kirthill having led from flagfall, and kept on really gamely when headed in the closing stages. He is thrown-in at the weights on those efforts, and what is interesting is that he is now upped to a more suitable trip of 1m 2f on his third start for the shrewd Easterby camp.
His best runs in 2011 came over that trip, and his two runs this season over a mile look like ideal “sharpeners” to get him ready to exploit his lenient handicap mark and land a gamble.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 4pts win Pivotman (17/2 BetVictor – BOG)