5/1 Gracies looks a real Gift
Graces Gift has become dangerously well handicapped and is of major interest at 5/1 in the 3.10 at Ayr.
The nine-year-olds last win came over course and distance at around this time last year off a mark of 63 and he is now running off just 52.
That gives Richard Guest’s gelding a huge chance from a handicapping perspective and he shaped as if ready to take advantage last time out when putting up his best run of the season to finish third of 10 to Beckermet over course and distance.
Ridden close up to the pace that day, the veteran kept on well in the soft ground to be beaten just three lengths.
Testing conditions clearly hold no fears for him and if building on that effort he is clearly going to take some beating in this line-up with everything seemingly in his favour.
The booking of Silvestre De Sousa is another positive and everything looks in place for a huge run.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Gracies Gift (5/1 bet365 – BOG)
A Flipping great bet at 7/1
The testing conditions at Ayr will be ideal for Flipping and he makes plenty of appeal at 7/1 in the 4.10.
The gelding signed off 2010 with two wins in the mud in mile contests at Windsor and Nottingham when trained by Stuart Kittow, and shaped with bags of promise for his new handler Eric Alston when 6th of 16 to Oriental Scott at Haydock last time out.
He chased the leaders and held every chance two from home before being unable to find any extra and weakening badly inside the last to be beaten 8 lengths.
However it was only his second run of this campaign, and having looked sure to come on for the run beforehand he ran far better than his finishing position suggests.
The handicapper has reacted by dropping him a couple of pounds to 77, and although still 9lb higher than his last win he had looked well up to defying such a mark when slamming Pittodrie Star at Nottingham last November when he looked a handicapper to keep on the right side.
I am convinced that he still has more to offer and is more than capable of winning a race of this nature.
With conditions clearly very much in his favour he looks overpriced at 7/1 with Boylesports and a great each-way bet.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Flipping (7/1 Boylesports – BOG)
Focal worth a flutter at 8/1
Focail Maith isn’t the easiest horse to win with but he has slipped to a nice mark and with conditions in his favour makes plenty of appeal at 8/1 in the 5.1 0at Ayr.
John Ryan’s gelding has just one victory to his name from 17 starts, but that win did come on heavy ground and he will relish today’s conditions.
Although his form this season has been a bit hit and miss, he has run some really solid races on occasions and his second to Proud Chieftan at Newmarket back in July off a mark of 70 arguably makes him the one to beat in this line-up.
He is now able to race off a mark of 68, and didn’t shape too badly last time out over a mile at Sandown when 7th of 12 to Sure Route.
The step back up in trip to 1m 1f will suit him far better, and with doubt’s surrounding many of his rivals ability to handle the ground this represents one of the best opportunities he has had for a while in my eyes.
I had him priced up at around the 6/1 mark on my tissue, so at 8/1 with Ladbrokes he looks terrific value.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Focal Maith (8/1 Ladbrokes – BOG)
