Hi,
Please see my four tips for Thirsday:
Muscika – 2.05 York – 6F Handicap – 18/1 Betfred – 1 Point Each Way.
The 7 year old Muscika seems to have been around longer than his age suggests. With 61 races under his belt he is well exposed and has won multiple times every year for his connections.
From his 7 wins it’s easy to see what the gelding likes, with 6 wins over 6F and good/fast ground being his preference. His last four wins have been off marks of 87 & 88, and he very much seems to have this as his ceiling of winning ability. With his wins being at York, Ayr and Thirsk, its clear he loves a flat track.
Muscika started this season on a mark of 91 and after 12 runs this season his mark has dropped to a very exploitable 81. His last run strongly hinted a return to form with a 2.5 length 7th of 17 where he stayed on well from the rear.
A return to York, where he has won twice before is very much a positive and he looks massively over priced as the 18/1 with Betfred.
I therefore recommend 1 point each way with Bet365.
He is still value at 12/1.
Bitcoin Colin – 3.55 Listowel – 2m 4F Handicap Chase – 1 Point Each Way – 25/1 Bet365.
It’s significant this race has been won 4 times in the last 6 years by trainer John Patrick Ryan, last year Bitcoin Colin was his winning horse.
From first glance it’s not entirely clear if Bitcoin Colin is the Trainers No1 pick as he also has Cluan Dara running for him with Sean O’Keefe jocked up. But for me this just helps make Bitcoin Colin a better price.
Last year John Patrick Ryan also ran a more favoured horse with a pro-jockey on board and his stable apprentice won on Bitview Colin. So I’m glad he has chosen the same tactic today bringing in his son, the 5lb claimer Trevor Ryan.
Bitcoin Colin won this race decisively last year off 95 on unfavourable soft ground and quite rightly went up in the handicap, but connections have managed to get him down to the same mark and today he gets his preferred sound surface.
He looks a stonking good each way play at 25/1 with Bet365.
He still looks value at 10/1.
Turbojet – 4.30 Listowel – 2m 6F Handicap Chase – 25/1 Bet365 – 1 point each way.
This is another typically competitive Irish handicap chase and you need a well handicapped horse to have any chance.
Turbojet looks the answer to me, he is 10 years old, but looked improved for going chasing last year. He had a couple of years off with injury which delayed his chasing career and he made up for lost time winning a fair Leopardstown novice chase postmarking 129 in the process before finishing 3rd of 3 in a Grade 3 behind Gold Cup Winner Minella Indo and another Cheltenham Festival winner Milan Native. That was no disgrace but gave him important jumping practice of the big obstacles.
He was off after that run in October 2020 until returning for a couple of spins over hurdles which will have put his fitness right in readiness for a crack at this early season target.
Running off 123, he looks unexposed and well handicapped. With the ground likely to ride yielding he will have enough juice in the ground to run his race.
At 25/1 with Bet365 who offer 4 places he looks a sound each way play.
He is still value at 14/1.
Hackbridge – 5.07 Worcester – 2 Mile Handicap Hurdle – 2 Point Win – 8/1 Bet365.
Hackbridge has been a regular on the flat running over 1m 2F and 1m 4F winning three racesand rating as high as 75.
The gelding has only run three times over hurdles and has completed his mandatory runs to obtain a handicap mark of 88.
His last hurdles run was off a 300 day break, and this looked very much like a pipe opener to the flat season. Where he was settled in rear and popped his hurdles well enough but blew up late on losing by 23 lengths. In third that day and 19 lengths in front was today’s rival and favourite London Eye who went onto to win his next maiden.
There are a number of reasons to be very positive about Hackbridge’s chances as he is now fit and in good form on the flat finishing placed on his last two outings.
What is much more interesting is the 23lb weight pull Hackbridge gets with London Eye. In literal terms that makes Hackbridge 23 lengths better off which will be enough to over the 19 length defeat.
Having said this I’m not a great lover of precise weights and measures so this alone doesn’t overly excite me.
But what is much more interesting is that Hackbridge’s usually wears headgear on the flat and these were discarded for his three maiden hurdle runs. What’s very noticeable on his handicap hurdle debut is headgear has been re-applied and this should enable considerable improvement, so will his fitness that was lacking when he first met London Eye.
With so much in his favour he has a very strong chance of finishing in front of the favourite and so I’m therefore recommending a 2 point win at 8/1 Bet365.
He is still value at 6/1
