Newsboy fancies his Nap, Gustav Graves, to return to the winner’s circle in the 7.30 at Wolverhampton on Monday evening, and he also expects James Jet to relish the soft ground at Ludlow (2.15)
GUSTAV GRAVES looks ripe for a return to winning form in the BetUK: It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap (7.30) at Wolverhampton this evening.
Derek Shaw’s stable stalwart scored five times in all-weather sprint handicaps last winter, four of his wins coming over this course and distance.
The handicapper was sure to demand his pound of flesh and so it proved, as the seven-year-old’s victory spree took him from a rating of 52 to 78.
My selection has embarked on a losing streak of 12 since beating Sugar Hill Babe by a length at Newcastle on March 1 last year, but has come down to a mark of 55 as a result and there were definite green shoots in a five, beaten a length and three-quarters at the line, behind Water Of Leith at the same venue last Thursday.
A full field of 11 should see this race run at a decent gallop – ideal for jockey Jo Mason as she seeks to pick off her rivals one by one.
At Ludlow, JAMES JET, with a fine record after a break and the ability to run to his optimum on rain-softened ground, is of definite interest as he makes his debut for Jamie Snowden in the RacingTV Handicap Hurdle (2.15).
Monday’s selections
LUDLOW
12.45 WALLQUATARI
1.15 IRON D’EX
1.45 DUNSKAY
2.15 JAMES JET (NB)
2.50 RAMO
3.25 SULLIVAN BAY
3.55 CLAIM DU BRIZAIS
AYR
1.00 ROB ROY MACGREGOR
1.30 GOLDEN POINT
2.00 DESTINY IS ALL
2.35 RAFFLES WONDER
3.10 MAGHLAAK
3.45 KEVLAR
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.00 CLASSY CLARETS
5.30 RADIANT BEAUTY
6.00 ORANGESANDLEMONS
6.30 ROYAL ZABEEL
7.00 MESAAFI
7.30 GUSTAV GRAVES (NAP)
8.00 STARFIGHTER
8.30 HIGH COURT JUDGE
DOUBLE: GUSTAV GRAVES and JAMES JET