BEST of the BETS

Exactly what it says on the tin. Bits and pieces I get the evening before and morning of racing.

3:42 Ayr
BENNETOT 5/1 generally - 0.75 POINTS E/W (4 places, 1/5 odds)

BENNETOT looks a solid bet at the prices and with 4 places on offer, I can't have him out of the frame. A winner at Windsor last month off a mark of 84 and then ran a cracker to come home 5th of 18 at York, in the Clipper Handicap. This was followed up with a 3rd of 9 at Ascot 2 weeks ago. Both were off today's handicap mark and both at this level. The step up in trip is sure to help and I think a big run is on the cards. E/W.

THURSDAY BETS

5.23 Ayr - Sir Garfield - 2.5 points each way @ 10/1 general (nearly all paying 4 places, 1/5 odds)

5.23 Ayr - Sir Garfield/King’s Crown - 0.5 points straight forecast, 0.5 points reverse forecast

6.5 points staked

Dreamrocker was all the rage in the betting, getting backed into 9/4, but she was probably trading at triple figures at the half way point as she was about 20 lengths off the pace. Even turning for home she had a ridiculous amount to do and she did well to get within about 4 lengths of the winner in the end, but never looked like getting into the race. Saffie didn’t seem to show any urgency before the straight to get the horse to keep in touch with the rest of the field so perhaps it was all down to jockey error, although the horse did show some of these quirks at Goodwood earlier this season. Despite the crazy amount of ground she had to make up, she probably would have got even closer on slightly softer ground so she still looks very well handicapped, but she’ll need to run at a hold up friendly track to be a betting proposition (Ascot was perfect for her when we won on her).

A real shame this Ayr meeting isn’t being run on good to soft ground as we’d likely be having our three biggest bets of the season over the next three days! Next week’s rain will come a little too late and as is stands they’ll all be lukewarm bets. There are some hopefully stronger bets elsewhere on Friday and Saturday, especially if the ground doesn’t dry out too much at Newbury.

5.23 Ayr

Sir Garfield is definitely one of the leading contenders in this race based on his course and distance form this season, but the drying ground is going to be a major worry here.

He finished 2nd both times in two runs in just three days here last month and both races have worked out well. The first of those came on good to soft ground and he was only beaten a head with that winner finishing runner up next time out. The 3rd won his next two, the 5th was 2nd next time and the 6th won next time out.

He filled that same position again two days later here, but was beaten around a quarter of a length further on good ground. The winner won again next time and the 3rd has filled that same position again so that was good form.

He was beaten 8.25 lengths on his latest start at Catterick which is a slight concern but that was his third run in nine days (freshened up since) and he was unsuited by not taking on his usual prominent racing style and the good to firm ground would have been plenty fast enough.

The ground will be drying out here which is far from ideal and is the main reason for such small stakes. His best form this season has all come on softish ground and if it was softer here we’d likely be having at least double the stake on him, but hopefully it doesn’t dry out too much.

In that first course and distance race here he was 1.75 lengths ahead of King’s Crown and is 3lbs worse off so he should crm that form again, but it’s likely to be close. There should be a bit of value in backing the forecast, especially with King’s Crown finishing an excellent 2nd since.

That pair’s form also ties in with Braes Of Doone, who is a shorter price in this, but on two pieces of course and distance form last month Sir Garfield is handicapped to come out on top. On their most recent meeting Sir Garfield is 9lbs better off for a half length defeat.