Mount Rock caught the eye on handicap debut and makes plenty of appeal at 8/1 in the 5.00 at Ripon today.
Mick Easterby’s charge failed to trouble the judge in three maidens but has shaped with promise, most notably when a when a 4 1/4 length fifth of 14 to Secret Advusor at Thirsk second time up.
The winner is a useful sort who finished third in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last time out to be rated 96 and the runner-up Materialist has won since and finished a decent third in a class 3 handicap at Doncaster off a rating of 81.
That represented decent form and suggested an opening handicap mark of 73 for Mount Rock is exploitable.
He ran really well off it when third to In First Place at York when not getting much assistance from Megan Nicholls in the saddle and finding himse,lf short of room a furlong from home.
Mount Rock has since been dropped 2lb and that looks kind given the promise he showed and his unexposed profile.
Nathan Evans also now takes over in the saddle and in receipt of weight from all his rivals everything looks in place for a big run.
Daily Sport recommended bet – posted on Twitter 5.10pm 18/08/17: 2pts each-way Mount Rock (8/1 Paddy Power – BOG)