Mount McCleod looks banker material
Mount McCleod has been very unlucky in her last four runs and given a change in fortune looks to have been found a glorious opportunity to finally break her duck in the 2.00 at Southwell.
Jamie Osbourne’s filly got no sort of a run when a neck second over 6f at Wolverhampton last time out, and it was the same story the time before over 5f at the Midlands track when she finished a never nearer two length fourth of 10 to Look Here’s Lady.
Before that she blew her chance of winning at Sandown with a slow start but kept on well to finish third and get within 2 lengths of the winner Mr Hendrix, and prior to that she had got no luck in running whatsoever when runner-up to Guava in handicap at Nottingham and did well to be beaten just over a length.
After being slowly away, she made smooth headway to track the leaders before being squeezed out when coming to deliver her challenge at the furlong marker and after losing vital lengths produced a strong run to snatch second on the line.
She fully deserves a change of fortune, and although her ability to act on the fibresand has to be taken on trust there is little doubt that she is well handicapped on her current mark of 53.
Connections have also found her one of the weakest races I have seen for some time, and if she doesn’t win today then I am going to give her up as a lost cause.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 4pts win Mount McLeod (7/4 Victor Chandler – BOG)
14/1 Sam Sharp can cut rivals down to size
Sam Sharp takes a drop in class in the 3.00 at Southwell and looks worth chancing at 14/1 to take advantage and bounce back to form.
Ian William’s’ gelding looked good when overcoming a 12 month absence to score over a mile in a class 3 handicap at at Haydock in May, travelling powerfully throughout and finding plenty to beat Tartan Trip going away by 2 1/4 lengths off a mark of 82.
That resulted in the handicapper putting him up to a mark of 89, and although he failed to score in four subsequent outings in class 2 events he was far from disgraced when putting in good late work to finish sixth of 12 to High Twelve at Ascot.
He was closing all the way to the line after being held up way out the back and was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths in what was a very competitive affair.
The five year-old is tackling the fibresand surface for the first time today, but if he does take to it then he is very fairly treated off his current mark of 84 in what is the weakest race he has contested for some time.
Today’s contest is a class 4 event and represents a two grade drop, and it’s also interesting that he has been given a nice break since his last run at Goodwood back in September as he has run very well when coming off a lay-off in the past.
To me he is too big a price at 14/1, and at those odds has to be worth an each-way interest.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way (14/1 generally available – use BOG firms)
Punching a knockout bet at 5s
Punching is very well treated now switched back to his favoured fibresand surface in the 4.00 at Southwell and has to be of serious interest at 5/1.
Conor Dore’s gelding is a real Southwell specialist and ran as if ready to go in again when a solid third on the turf at Yarmouth last time out.
He came out the best of those that raced on the stands side that day on a surface which has never seen him at his best, and now that he is back on his favourite stomping ground must take all the beating.
The seven-year-old is now 7lb lower in the weights than when last successful over course and distance back in February and that gives him outstanding claims from a handicapping point of view.
He is virtually never out of the money when running at this track, and at the 5/1 on offer looks an each-way steal with bookmakers paying 1/4 odds 1,2,3.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Punching (5/1 generally available – use BOG firms)
