Newsboy expects punters to give his Nap, Secret Handsheikh, the thumbs up in the 5.30 at Windsor, while he also fancies Buy The Dip to win again at Brighton (4.02)
SECRET HANDSHEIKH and Jack Callan are the combination to follow in the opening Fitzdares Telephone Betting Apprentice Handicap (5.30) at Windsor today.
John Gallagher’s stable stalwart has a fair strike-rate for a seven-year-old who for much of his career has plied his trade in sprint handicaps – he’s won seven of his 52 starts.
The last success came at Brighton seven outings back in September last year, but Secret Handsheikh is now 3lb above the British Horseracing Authority rating he scored from that day and his turn is not far away.
Beaten half a length in second by Bang On The Bell over course and distance three starts ago, Secret Handsheikh didn’t match that form when fifth at Brighton next time.
But he would almost certainly have gone close but for being consistently denied racing room in the closing stages at Chepstow 10 days ago, eventually crossing the line in fifth – but only beaten a couple of lengths – behind Some Nightmare.
Rising star Callan’s 7lb claim is another positive, and Secret Handsheikh gets the vote for an 11th career triumph.
At Brighton, BUY THE DIP is taken to improve on an impressive record in East Sussex by beating seven opponents for the Star Sports Handicap (4.02). Monday’s selections BRIGHTON 2.25 POP DANCER 2.57 DAZZLING HAZE 3.30 IREZUMI 4.02 BUY THE DIP (NB) 4.32 TIME PATROL 5.03 BEAR TO DREAM SOUTHWELL 2.40 SIR ROCK 3.10 WE GOT YOUR BACK 3.45 IOLAOS DU MOU 4.15 BETTY’S TIARA 4.50 JANWORTH 5.20 SHADOWS IN THE SKY WINDSOR 5.30 SECRET HANDSHEIKH (NAP) 6.00 DICTAL 6.30 NAHRAAN 7.00 REGAL ENVOY 7.30 MAGICAL IDEA 8.00 ACCENTUATE 8.30 MREMBO 9.00 LIVE EACH DAY PONTEFRACT 5.15 PROTEST RALLY 5.45 LILY PEARL 6.20 PERFECTLY TIMED 6.50 QUEEN OF STEEL 7.20 WE STILL BELIEVE 7.50 THIS YEARS LOVE 8.20 ILLUSIONIST 8.50 FIERCE DOUBLE: SECRET HANDSHEIKH and BUY THE DIP