We were one winner away from ending October with a big bang but it wasn't to be as another mixed bag saw two decent winners return a relatively modest amount.
I have struggled to dig out anything overly special to kick off November, in fact I am not happy at all but with more time on my hands for now I'll hope to refind our consistency sharpish.
Seantrabh 7/1 – 13.08 Newmarket
Seantrabh has only managed to get his head in front once since gaining an opening mark of 84 last April when starting out in a Class 3 at Thirsk. He's been campaigned almost exclusively at a higher level than today which we hope adds to his claims.
His win was off an effective 71 in September at Chester in a Class 4. On the 5th of October he was 3rd rated 75, again in a Class 4, he was a nose behind Albegone who won this week. The stable apprentice takes back over today putting the horse 1lb above his last win.
The trainer has sent out a couple of winners recently so we can hope the class drop and recent form is enough to hit the frame.
Babyface 11/2 four places – 17.30 Dundalk
It's been a while since I was a regular visitor to Dundalk but it is worth having an eye on as it'll be a consistent fixture over the coming months. I can't say I have dissected all the runners in this but I like one near enough the top of the market for the Eddy Lynam team.
The selection like many I tend to put up has a dreadful profile in his first proper year at the races. It was last time out, his 8th rated start where he showed enough to perhaps mix it again today when 4th of 17 at the Curragh.
He was a massive price that day but the form is reasonable enough if all is well now in a slightly easier contest. He is however yet to be tried on an artificial surface but I have plenty of respect for the trainer and we can at least anticipate a true showing.
Claxton Bay 4/1 four places – 14.52 Newmarket
The David Evans stable had a worse October than I did, he didn't send out a winner but did have two 2nds from his last three runners which hopefully indicates a change of fortunes.
He had a winner on this card last year with today's jockey who takes over on Claxton Bay having missed his win at Beverley. Bet365 are still offering an acceptable price but it evaporating as I speak, I've discounted enough rivals and with an extra place, we can be confident he remains competitive after a 3lb rise.
He hasn't been seen for just over a month, it was his first win and this will be his first visit to Newmarket, a track which should suit based on his last effort. Before that he had a 2nd and 3rd from August, I will always have aprehensions about outright win prospects but I'd be disappointed to see him out of the places.
Phone Tag 14/1 four places – 15.27 Newmarket
This is a horse which could easily scupper our bet but in a race where I could have landed on a good few, I am going to risk this relatively new addition to the Kevin Frost yard, a trainer who shared a big winner for these owners with Jack Mitchell who let us down yesterday despite landing a treble.
The horse started out with the respected Hugo Palmer, winning last October rated 73 over a mile at Windsor, his only win to date, I didn't like the trip for him on breeding but he has already shown a preference for further than his sire Havana Grey.
*Advised Bet – Eachway L15*
WHAT IS A LUCKY 15 BET?
A Lucky 15 bet consists of 15 unique bets, covering every possible combination that comes from backing four selections. The 15 bets are broken down like this:
– 1 fourfold accumulator
– 4 trebles, with each treble omitting one of your selections
– 6 doubles, again covering every possible combination
– 4 singles
The attraction of a Lucky 15 is that it offers many more ways to win than a standard accumulator. A Lucky 15 uses both your acca and your singles as well as producing trebles and doubles that reward you for correctly calling 2/4 or 3/4 of your selections. To cover the 15 separate bets, a Lucky 15 uses your stake 15 times. If you were to place £1 on a Lucky 15, you would be staking £15 in total across the various bets.