Hi
Please see my tips for tomorrow:
The Tartan Spartan – 4.58 Gowran Park – 2m 4F Handicap Hurdle – 33/1 Skybet 6 Places – 1 Point Each Way.
I put up The Tartan Spartan in early September and the horse was apprentice ridden by Frank Hayes who settled him in last place and was never put in the race. He was even tenderly ridden in the home straight and only lost by 15 lengths. I take my hat off to the young Frank Hayes as he must have done just enough to stop the Stewards getting involved.
If you read my previous write up The Tartan Spartan was a class flat horse rated over 100 and ran in the Group 1 Irish St Leger. He suffered an injury, probably a tendon which kept him off the track for almost two years and he has been quite rightly gently nursed back to full health.
He is down to a hurdle mark of 95 and I am certain he will absolutely bolt up soon. It’s just a question of getting our timing right and hoping to back him at a good price before a plunge happens, or before he puts in a good run that ruins his price.
Looking at the jockey bookings and reading between the lines I think today could be the day. As the two young apprentice Hayes brothers have been in the saddle but today the elder pro jockey Chris Hayes takes the ride.
I feel this is significant as Chris is a fine jockey who can execute a big ride and has been the main choice in recent years of the trainer Philip Fenton.
At 33/1 with Skybet who offer 6 places he looks a fantastic each way price and that might look huge by the off.
He still looks value at 12/1.
Read my previous write up below:
The Tartan Spartan – 2.10 Wexford – 2m 4F Handicap Hurdle – 50/1 Skybet 4 places – 1 point each way.
The 8 year old was decent on the flat and even ran in the Group 1 St Leger as a three year old. He won three times on the flat over middle/staying trips and peaked off a mark of 102 (postmarking 105).
He went hurdling for Irish connections and showed promise in his novice season, postmarking a high of 114 over an inadequate trip of 2 miles.
That was back in 2019 and he must have suffered an injury as he was off the track for a year and a half and changed stables.
On his return his return, in his 5 starts he unsurprisingly didn’t show such good form.
This season he has run twice, and he was a real eyecatcher on his first start in a novice hurdle where he stayed on from the rear (after the jockey allowed him to fall to the back of the field half way). That tells me he is very much better and can step up his form when fit.
His last run was satisfactory and now he should be fully fit and down to a hurdling mark of 98, with a further 7lb off for his claiming jockey his looks very well handicapped.
Today’s trip of 2m 4F on good ground should see him go well and at 50/1 with Skybet, who offer 4 places in this 12 runner event we are getting massive value, so I recommend 1 point each way.
He still looks value at 20/1.
Crystal Lad – 4.40 Hexham – 2m 7F Handicap Hurdle – 66/1 Bet365 – 1 Point Each Way
Crystal Lad has spent the last two seasons trying to establish himself as a chaser, but it hasn’t really worked for him.
He has been hindered by poor jumping and then more recently a breathing problem which has seen his results tail off.
He returned recently for his seasonal opener back over hurdles after having a wind operation and looked in need of the outing.
Crystal Lad should come on for that run and the practice back over hurdles will have been needed.
It’s always a positive when a horse has a second run after a wind operation and so there are many factors which could result into a return to form.
With a handicap mark of just 89 he is on a dangerous mark and is worth an each way play at 66/1 with Bet365.
He is still value at 16/1.
Clongowes – 4.15 Ascot – 2 Mile Handicap – 30/1 Betfair Sportsbook – 1 Point Each Way.
Ex Godolphin Group class horse who suffered a bad injury which kept him off the track for almost three years and was sold on to small connections.
He has been nursed along slowly over hurdles and returned to the flat with a decent effort at Ascot off a mark of 89.
Clongowes hasn’t replicated that since, but it may be due to running twice at the quirky undulating tight Goodwood track that didn’t suit this out and out galloper.
Ascot definitely suits and being down to 79 gives him a good chance.
I’m just a little concerned over the amount of rail which might fall overnight at the track. Good to soft would be fine but I think soft may be a disadvantage to him. But off such a low mark he is still very interesting.
At 30/1 with Betfair Sportsbook he is well worth an each way bet and I recommend 1 point each way.
He is still value at 16/1.
Joyful Star – 8.00 Newcastle – 1 Mile Handicap – 28/1 Boyles – 4 places – BOG – 1 Point Each Way.
Joyful Star is 11 years old, and his best days are now behind him, but he has shown a liking for Newcastle’s straight mile course before and is also a winner here over 7F.
His Trainer Fred Watson always manages a few winners per year and is over due one and Joyful Star looks like the answer in a very weak race off bottom weight and the very good Jason Hart in the saddle.
At 28/1 with Boyles who offer BOG and 4 places he is worth a small investment.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drift out further so make sure your on with BOG.
He is still value at 20/1.
