10/1 Walvis Bay worth a wager
Walvis Bay has dropped back down to a winning mark and is of serious interest at 10/1 in the opener at Haydock (1.40)
The gelding has been shaping well all season without troubling the judge and is now down to a mark of 76 having started the campaign on 82.
That means that Tom Tate’s charge is now 2lb lower than when registering his last win over 5f at Ripon last August where he made all and scored easily by two lengths from Secret Millionaire.
He has shown plenty of pace in three starts this season, and his best run came when fifth of 13 to Ginger Ted over 6f at Thirsk on his penultimate start.
Unable to dominate that day, he chased the leaders before hanging left approaching the final furlong and being unable to find any extra – eventually fading late on to be beat 3 3/3 lengths.
The drop back in trip to 5f today looks sure to suit him better, and although there are plenty of front runners in the contest he has a good draw in stall 10 to exploit and doesn’t have to lead to win.
There is no doubt in my mind that he is now handicapped to go in again, and this represents the best opportunity he has had for a long time.
I had him priced up at around the 7/1 mark, so the 10s currently available looks great value.
Recommended bet: 2pts each-way Walvis Bay (10/1 Coral, Stan James)
Who’s Shirl worth a whirl at 16/1
Who’s Shirl has been given a chance by the handicapper and looks worth chancing at 16/1 in the 3.40 at Haydock
Chris Fairhurst’s mare was very progressive in six furlong sprint handicaps last season when winning three times.
Her last success came off a mark of 78 when beating Pepper Lane by a short-head over 6f at Pontefract last September, and the winner has developed into a very decent sprinter having landed a hat-trick off 95 when winning the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.
Who’s Shirl is now down to a rating of 76 having failed to trouble the judge in five starts this season, and on that form she is undoubtedly well treated if bouncing back to her best.
She has not run as badly in some of her races this season as her form figures suggest, and kept on well on her latest start to finish fifth of 10 to Perre Lane at Redcar after getting badly outpaced at halfway.
Although beaten 11 lengths she showed enough to me to suggest that she was not a lost cause, and now that the assessor has cut her some slack I would not be surprised to see her put up a much improved showing.
There seems to be plenty of pace assured in today’s contest, and providing she doesn’t get too far detached early doors the race is likely to be set up for a finisher like her.
She would certainly be no 16/1 shot if reproducing the form she showed when beating Pepper Lane, and is definitely worth an each-way punt at those odds.
Recommended bet: 2pts each-way Who’s Shirl (16-1 bet365, Victor Chandler – BOG, Stan James)