Today’s best bets
It is less than a year since the start of the Tapeta era at Newcastle, but it has not taken long for quite a few horses to run up very respectable records at the track, particularly on the straight mile, and a couple of these make plenty of appeal on the Gosforth Park card this afternoon.
Genres (4.40) has certainly upped his game since trying his luck at Newcastle, showing improved form when fourth over 10 furlongs in late December and then getting his head in front for the first time since May 2015 next time out, when he was stepping up to 12 furlongs.
His revival has also co-incided with an upturn for Alan Swinbank’s stable, and while he is 6lb higher in the weights today on 68, this is a horse who raced off a mark in the mid-80s as a three-year-old. The time of his latest success suggested that the form is solid, and a couple of those in behind have run with credit since.
Eastern Dragon (3.40) has also been spending plenty of time in the north east, having travelled up to Gosforth Park for his last four starts, winning twice. He is now on a career-high mark of 80, and with three potential front-runners in the field, Eastern Dragon should get the solid pace which plays to his strengths.
Pass The Time (3.05) has been racing over both hurdles and fences since her last start on the all-weather almost exactly a year ago, and has also had a three-month break since finishing fourth over timber at Wetherby in late October. It is a sign of her class that that was a Listed event, however, and she has also lined up in Grade One company at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals within the last 12 months. She has been found a weak event for her return, and should be up to defying a mark of 62.
The runner with most potential at Market Rasen is Domperignon Du Lys (1.50), who should justify a short price in the opener on the way to a possible run in one of the juvenile events at the Festival. Mwaleshi (3.25) is now reached the veteran stage of his career but showed last time out that he could well have at least one more win in him, while at Hereford, Gardiners Hill (2.40) could be the best bet on the card in a handicap chase which may develop into a match with Matrows Lady.
Hereford
2.10 Late Shipment 2.40 Gardiners Hill 3.15 Gayebury 3.50 Sparkling River 4.20 Wild West Wind 5.10 Tikkanbar
Newcastle
1.30 Outlaw Torn 2.00 Spirit Of The Vale 2.30 Green Or Black 3.05 Pass The Time 3.40 Eastern Dragon (nb) 4.10 Angelou 4.40 Genres (nap)
Market Rasen
1.50 Domperignon Du Lys 2.20 Little Miss Poet 2.50 Bastien 3.25 Mwaleshi 4.00 Minella Fiveo 4.30 Barel Of Laughs
