The season is drawing to a close at Brighton and the eight-race card at the Sussex track this afternoon is not its most compelling offering of the year, or even the last few weeks, but The Big Short (5.15) is worth waiting for in the final event.
Charlie Hills’s three-year-old drew a blank in six starts as a juvenile and did not make an auspicious start to his second season either, finishing last of eight on his second start this year. His connections clearly suspected there was some talent in there somewhere, though, as The Big Short was well-backed at Leicester next time up and showed improved form to record a cosy win for Jim Crowley.
His three starts since suggest that he remains in form, and he was only headed within sight of the line at Goodwood last time. Silvestre de Sousa, whose strike-rate at Brighton is above 20% this season, is an excellent choice to ride with Crowley unavailable, and 9-4 is an excellent price in a race that will not take much winning.
If there is another bet worth having on the Brighton card it could be the nine-year-old mare Whitecrest (3.45), who has four previous wins at this track among her 115 career starts. The last of her three quickfire wins at the start of the season came off today’s mark, and she has not been in a race with as little depth as this one for a while.
At Carlisle, Yes You (1.45) should go very close in the opening sprint handicap having gone close over six furlongs at the same course last time from a 1lb higher mark. Redarna (4.25) did not get much luck in running last time out and will go close if James Sullivan can find a gap at the right moment in a slightly smaller field this afternoon, while Mad Jack Mytton (3.35) makes most appeal on the jumps card at Worcester.
Monday’s tips
Brighton 1.35 Indiana Dawn 2.10 Groundnut 2.40 Lady Morel 3.10 Touch Of Colour 3.45 Whitecrest 4.15 Altaira 4.45 Captain Marmalade 5.15 The Big Short (nap)
Carlisle 1.45 Yes You 2.20 Paddy’s Rock 2.50 Sakhalin Star 3.20 Divine Intuition 3.55 Elysee Star 4.25 Redarna (nb) 4.55 For The Roses 5.25 Parole
Worcester 2.00 Abbeygrey 2.30 Viking Mistress 3.00 Mile House 3.35 Mad Jack Mytton 4.05 Hatcher 4.35 Forza Milan 5.05 Amanto
