Post by SALFORD GIRL on Jun 4, 2023 18:29:28 GMT
RACING POST - BEST BETS
MONDAY 5th JUNE 2023
By Mr Richard Birch.
ZUMURUD
3.30 Thirsk
BOLLIN MARGARET
5.00 Thirsk
GLOBAL HUMOR
5.15 Ayr
GEARING'S POINT
8.15 Windsor
ZUMURUD
3.30 Thirsk
BOLLIN MARGARET
5.00 Thirsk
GLOBAL HUMOR
5.15 Ayr
GEARING'S POINT
8.15 Windsor
The 14-runner Play With The Finest Bookmaker, Fitzdares Handicap (8.15) at Windsor might not be as competitive as the numbers imply and progressive five-year-old Gearing’s Point stands out.
My selection was having only the seventh start of her career when making a winning debut for Sheena West on Lingfield’s all-weather surface last month.
Gearing’s Point burst clear over a furlong out and beat Persian Wolf with more in hand than the official length and a quarter margin suggests, as she was eased in the closing stages.
The daughter of Harbour Watch looked as though she would stay further that afternoon and the drop in trip at this course last time didn’t suit.
Nonetheless, Gearing’s Point ran an excellent race to finish third to Trojan Truth, beaten only half a length, and appeals strongly as a mare to keep firmly on side off her low rating.
West steps Gearing’s Point back up in trip on this return to Windsor and everything looks in place for a big run.
Well drawn to occupy a decent early stalking position from stall two, she is competing from just a 1lb higher mark than for her Lingfield win when the 5lb claim of Rose Dawes is taken into consideration.
Gearing’s Point clearly enjoys fast ground, appears to have a good attitude and looks well worth a bet.
A low draw is an advantage in mile handicaps at Thirsk and Zumurud may prove the answer to the Best Prices Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.Bet Handicap (3.30) from stall three.
The Mark Walford-trained eight-year-old, who is a five-time winner, does plenty of his racing at seven furlongs but seems much better over a longer trip nowadays.
His last win came over Nottingham’s extended mile last July, when he powered home by two lengths from Girl Inthe Picture on good to firm ground off an official rating of 63.
Zumurud, notably strong at the finish over seven furlongs on his most recent start at Wetherby when sixth of 11 behind Al Baahy, has been dropped 2lb for that defeat, which means he can race off his last winning mark.
He should be spot on in terms of fitness and his stable, which sent out Classic Lady to score at Hexham on Saturday, continues to be in good form.
Zumurud, who raced in a visor on his latest start, is now equipped with blinkers. Walford switched cheekpieces for a visor prior to his Nottingham victory and the headgear change can light the spark once again.
Bollin Margaret, who won off a mark of 78 under 9st 12lb as a four-year-old at Ayr on good to firm ground in September 2021, can confirm herself a well-handicapped mare by landing the Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap (5.00) at Thirsk.
After failing to get on the scoresheet last term, the Tim Easterby-trained six-year-old has tumbled down the weights from a peak of 80 to 61.
Well backed to take advantage of that attractive mark in a 1m2f handicap at Redcar last Monday, Bollin Margaret was short of room from the three-furlong pole until just over a furlong out.
When finally securing a clear run, the joint-topweight picked up well to lead inside the final furlong, only to be denied by Iron Sheriff close home.
Bollin Margaret beat the rest decisively, won’t be inconvenienced by the step back up in trip and can lay down the law this time.
Global Humor may have beaten Giselles Izzy by only a nose at Ayr last month, but the manner in which he went through nine-tenths of that race smacked of a well-handicapped horse.
By far the last off the bridle, Global Humor wasn’t shaken up until well inside the final furlong and pounced in the final stride.
That success was achieved off a mark of 58. His four previous turf wins came off 70, 68, 65 and 60, so there is clearly plenty of scope for him to climb back up the ratings ladder.
He should have little difficulty shrugging off a 3lb rise for that Ayr triumph on his return to the track for the Book For Scottish Sun Ladies Night Handicap (5.15) over a trip which suits him even better.
