3 minute read

Following a 25/1 winner on Saturday, Sam King returns with two selections to kick you off on Monday afternoon…

There’s no doubt following a weekend that was jam-packed with high-class action that Monday’s racing represents something of a drop in standard, but nevertheless, there looks to be two interesting contenders on the all-weather. 

Gretna Dreams – 4.55 Wolverhampton 

Claim To Glory holds obvious claims in the opener at Wolverhampton following a commanding course success on his nursery debut, but at the prices, it could be worth chancing Gretna Dreams. 

Simon Pearce’s charge has been in my tracker ever since her fairly promising debut eighth-place finish in a warm Yarmouth maiden back in July, shaping as though longer trips were going to bring out the best in her when running on nicely under hands and heels. 

That Yarmouth race has produced multiple future winners, with even the seventh-placed horse now rated 79 following a maiden victory. 

Gretna Dreams has failed to match that form on her next two outings but does now stretch out over a mile for the first time. An opening mark of 58 should prove workable in time and if appreciating this step up to one-mile one-and-a-half furlongs then this daughter of Ghaiyyath could easily be competitive on her first outing in handicap company. 

Odds – 12/1

Ayr Harbour – 6.30 Wolverhampton

Later on the card, Ayr Harbour looks particularly interesting for the in-form trainer Mick Appleby, who is currently operating at an eye-catching strike rate of 25% (8-32) over the last fourteen days. 

It was a warm seven-furlong handicap he contested in the Racing League at Southwell last month and he was by no means disgraced back in fifth, having probably done too much up front in the early stages. 

He really caught the eye when staying on from the rear to grab the runner-up spot off a 1lb higher at Kempton prior and is surely too well-handicapped to ignore in a race of this nature, given that you only have to go back a couple of years to find him being competitive in Class 2 handicaps off ratings of 96 and 97.

Stall three looks ideal for a horse who might attempt to dictate matters on the front end and with the return to Wolverhampton also an interesting angle (finished runner-up on both outings there), the Mick Appleby-trained seven-year-old could prove the value play. 

Odds – 13/2