Bets Of The Day: Looking for Gold at Cartmel with Tuscan

Alan Dudman
18 July 2016

Alan Dudman is hoping to strike gold with one of his selections at Cartmel

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Alan found his second winner of the week with Dyllan yesterday at Redcar, but Ballykan's defeat at 1.061/18 in-play when running out before the last fence was a massive blow at Stratford. He returns for Monday's racing with two bets.....

"The nine-year-old races from a mark of 110, which is the lowest figure over hurdles for quite some time - so he's handicapped to win. Given the fact that his rivals just might have something to prove over the distance, he warrants a small interest."

Back Tuscan Gold @ 4.03/1 in the 15:20 at Cartmel

14:30 Ayr - Quinn colt to deliver

Well the seconds are tough to take when they trade short (and there were a few from my last stint). However, I will do well to eclipse the Ballykan run yesterday. Put up here, and well-backed, he was set to win towards the last, and was matched at 1.061/18 in-running before darting out violently to his left.

On to Monday we go.

I'm a firm believer in trainer form, and John Quinn's horses have been going well recently. From his previous 21 runners, he's sent out five winners and three runner-up finishers. He can collect further success at Ayr on Monday.

Moonlightnavigator looked a decent horse last year when scoring at Musselburgh from a mark of 85. That was a 0-100 handicap, and he was set for a good season. However, he got found out in some better races and took a bit of a bashing.

I have never really been a subscriber to horses losing confidence, but this four-year-old certainly lost something.

Whilst he never convinced me with attempts at 1m2f, today's trip of 7f is ideal, and he usually finishes his race very strongly. His recent C&D effort highlighted his return to form - when running on for second after fluffing the start.

He remains of interest from 77, considering at one stage he was rated 13lb higher in 2015.

15:20 Cartmel - Strike gold with Hammond's Tuscan

This 3m1f handicap hurdle has very few horses proven at the trip, and whilst Cartmel and its tight turns are unique, Tuscan Gold could be best served by the distance judged on his staying power on the flat.

Firstly he doesn't win very often over hurdles, in fact he is yet to win. A record of 0-17 with nine places is not the stuff of legend.

However, he raced over marathon trips on the flat and scored over 2m1f at Pontefract in the past, and he was always known as a horse who stayed very well. His latest spin over hurdles wasn't too bad in the context of a completely inadequate test. He struggled badly with the minimum trip - but back up in distance today offers hope he'll see them all off.

The nine-year-old races from a mark of 110, which is the lowest figure over hurdles for quite some time - so he's handicapped to win. Given the fact that his rivals just might have something to prove over the distance, he warrants a small interest.

Monday's Recommended Bets (both half point)

Back Moonlightnavigator @ 5.509/2 in the 14:30 at Ayr
Back Tuscan Gold @ 4.03/1 in the 15:20 at Cartmel

Weekly P/L: +0.20

Previous week: -7.80

2015 P/L: +20.14