MUSSELBURGH BETTING TIPS:
13:15 – LAERTES
13:50 – ABDUCTION
14:30 – GRAY’S INN
15:05 – HEREDIA
15:40 – OLD SMOKE
16:15 – RORY
16:50 – LAAKHOF
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:15 – LAERTES
LAERTES wasn’t seen to best effect when filling the runner-up spot at Chelmsford last week, leaving himself with plenty to do following an awkward start and doing well under the circumstances to be beaten only three and a half lengths having met a bit of trouble late on. He can line up from the same mark today and is very much one to be interested in now stepping back up to seven furlongs.
13:50 – ABDUCTION
ABDUCTION again shaped well when finishing third at Ayr last time, passing the post just half a length behind the winner and arguably deserving extra credit having been caught further back than ideal in a race that wasn’t run at an end-to-end gallop. Runner-up at this course the time before, he arrives here in a rich vein of form and the return to seven furlongs today might be just what he needs to take advantage of what is clearly a workable mark.
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14:30 – GRAY’S INN
GRAY’S INN produced a promising first effort when finding one too good at Ripon last month, keeping on well having been forced to come around the pair she split. She was beaten just half a length at the line and that form puts her right in the mix on these terms. Sure to improve with her debut run under her belt, she rates a solid selection to get off the mark at the second time of asking.
15:05 – HEREDIA
HEREDIA proved a disappointment last year after completing a four-timer in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, but she took a step back in the right direction when filling the runner-up spot in a listed race at Newmarket last time. That was her first start for eight months and her first run over six furlongs since her two-year-old days, taking time to adjust to that before running on well to pass the post just half a length behind the subsequent Group 2 winner Azure Blue. That appeals as very strong form and this looks an excellent opportunity for Heredia to regain the winning thread now stepping back up to seven furlongs.
15:40 – OLD SMOKE
OLD SMOKE proved better than ever when finishing sixth on his handicap debut at Newbury a couple of weeks ago, sticking to his task well on his first try at this trip to be beaten just a length and a half. That is typically one of the most competitive three-year-old handicaps run all season and Old Smoke certainly showed enough to suggest he is on a good mark by finishing so close. He is back in calmer waters today and should mount a bold bid to double his career tally.
16:15 – RORY
RORY produced a career-best effort when finishing second at Ayr last time, seeing things out strongly as he passed the post just half a length behind the winner. He’s been campaigned as a sprinter for much of his career, but he clearly stayed the seven furlongs well at Ayr and the way he finished his race suggests the mile today will also be within his range. He’s gone up only 1 lb in the weights and there is no reason why he shouldn’t be thereabouts once again.
16:50 – LAAKHOF
LAAKHOF made the perfect start to life with Declan Carroll (formerly trained by Dermot Weld) when opening his account at Catterick last month, digging deep when closed down late on to hold on by a head. He lines up today from just a 4 lb higher mark and Zak Wheatley, who is decent value for his 3 lb claim, takes over in the saddle. Just a repeat of his Catterick form should put him right there, while there’s a chance that run could bring him on again after nine months off.
13:15 – LAERTES
13:50 – ABDUCTION
14:30 – GRAY’S INN
15:05 – HEREDIA
15:40 – OLD SMOKE
16:15 – RORY
16:50 – LAAKHOF
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Paddy’s ultimate Cheat Sheet for Epsom Derby day
- Ruby Walsh’s slick picks for Derby day at Epsom
- Matt Chapman’s Saturday selections on Derby day at Epsom
- Jason Weaver’s wily ITV Racing Wagers for Derby day at Epsom
- Mick Fitzgerald’s Flutters for Derby day at Epsom
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