11.30am Gilgamboa and Goonyella plot returns for National
Tony Paley: Irish challengers Gilgamboa and Goonyella, fourth and fifth in Saturday’s Grand National, are already being aimed at next year’s running of the Aintree spectacular, won this time round by Rule The World.
Enda Bolger, who trains Gilgamboa, said: “The horse is in good form, he came out of it well and I’m still on cloud nine. He ran a great race and he’s something to look forward to for next season. We’ll put him away now.
“I was chuffed to bits with how he ran and Robbie [Power] gave him a lovely ride and held on to him. The ground went against him, but he was staying on again in the last 150 yards.
“He’s home, he’s safe and sound and there are a lot of positive things to take out of it. He’s only a young horse - the third horse was 13 [Vics Canvas] - and hopefully we’ve a lot to look forward to.”
Jim Dreaper is also plotting a return to Aintree for the mudlark Goonyella. Although not quite having the pace to go with those at the head of the field, last year’s Midlands National winner stuck on well to take fifth on his third outing over the unique fences.
Dreaper said: “We were delighted that he got round and came back safe and sound. He arrived back in at 7.10 [on Sunday morning] and he was certainly a lot fresher than the two men that got off the lorry with him. There were a few minor scratches on his hind legs, and he is now out in the field with his mate.
“I tried to be honest as I could before the race - for him to have a chance he would have needed a Red Marauder year [2001] as he needs it bottomless as he is just missing a gear or two.
“He has had a hard race and the owners would prefer it if he didn’t run again this season and I don’t think there are too many races around now for horses like him. If everything goes right, the long-term plan would to be to go back to the National next year.”
Monday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The first card of the new Flat turf season at Redcar was a bruising experience for punters, with winners at 33-1, 22-1, 16-1 and 12-1, and though the track’s second meeting of the year looks a little more accommodating, it might be worth treating with a little caution given that three fascinating days at Newmarket’s Craven meeting start on Tuesday.
If there is a bet to be had on the card, it might be Smart Mover (4.00) in the one-mile handicap. John Quinn’s filly is making her seasonal debut, but was a four-length winner on very soft ground at Leicester on her final start as a juvenile. She looked capable of finding further improvement there despite a busy two-year-old campaign, and could be up to defying a 10lb higher mark today.
Windsor’s Flat meetings on Monday evenings are immensely popular, but their season gets off to a more low-key start this afternoon when Top Diktat (4.50) goes to post with every chance. He put up a noteworthy performance on the clock to win on soft ground at Nottingham last November and ran as if he was still in form when third of four at Kempton in February.
Elsewhere on the card, Freddy With A Y (3.20) is on a fair mark, while at Kelso, Westend Theatre (4.20) may be able to recent Hexham form with Whats Up Woody on 6lb better terms. Bollin Ace (4.10) also has fair prospects on the same card.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to cornsay, who won last week’s tipping competition on a final score of +33.64, chased by 23skidoo (+22.14) who had Ballyoptic (9-1) on Friday, while Tommy2002 (+16) closed into third place thanks to Eastlake (22-1). Cornsay bagged the £100 Grand National bet from Skybet and divided it into £25 each-way bets on Ucello Conti and, more importantly, Gilgamboa (50-1), who came fourth and bagged Cornsay a nice return for his week’s work.
This week, we’re offering a second copy of Racing & Football Outlook’s Flat Guide 2016, the handy annual which as ever is packed with facts, analysis, tips and insights into the new season to help lift your spirits from the post-Aintree slump. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.30 Redcar, 3.40 Kelso, 4.50 Windsor.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
