Yesterday’s Review

1pt e/way Na Scoitear – Everything went to plan for our selection yesterday. The “figure” horse, as our learned friend James Willoughby would say, broke like a dream from the stalls and that early keenness from past races wasn’t as noticeable today. Direct Hit set a decent enough pace and Na Scoitear had the box seat, tracking the leader on the rails. As the field fanned out in the home straight jockey Rowan Scott had him poised to challenge in third place, just over a length away. From there he just needed to be pushed along, to take up the lead over a furlong out, and was ridden out to win by 1/2 length at the line. Result 1st 6/1 advised…5/1 SP.

Today’s Advice

Fortamour (6F Handicap) this 7-y-o gelding has been dropping down the handicap ratings since reaching a career high of (90) last July at York. Racing off (82) today, 3lbs below his last winning mark, the selection would appear to be back down to a winnable mark. With the going described as Soft (Good To Soft In Places) today at Redcar ability to handle the conditions should be high on the list. With a win at Ripon, last April on Soft going, the Ben Haslam trained gelding ticks that box nicely. Finishing 11th of 14 at Newcastle on Tapeta, last time out, may not appear to be the best seasonal debut. However, the winning speed figure was very strong for a Class 4 race. With only 4 1/4 lengths back to our selection this was a creditable return from 171 days off from the track. The only concern I have today is the draw in stall 10. At recent meetings on a Soft surface at Redcar, it would appear that a low draw near the far rail, may be an advantage. But, with so many other factors in the selection’s favour today, I am happy to have a small interest at the prices on offer.

0.5pt e/way Fortamour (10/1 4 places 888sport, 9/1 Coral/Unibet/Betfred/Boyles/Ladbrokes/Skybet) Redcar 4.36