Alan Thomson’s Tips: Sheriff can lay down the law at Wolves

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AN incredible 109 horses were non-runners yesterday due to heavy rain, causing havoc with punters.

There should be no mass exodus on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton where SHERIFF GARRETT (7.05) can edge out Easy Wind.

Sheriff Garrett set out to make all at Thirsk at the weekend but was collared inside the final furlong. Tim Easterby’s gelding was ridden with more restraint over course and distance when powering clear of the re-opposing Padleyourowncanoe and he’ll be hard to beat this evening.

Sir Mark Prescott’s filly Easy Wind ran well enough at Ayr (third) behind Question Of Faith but was beaten by the 45-rated Tsundoku on deep ground at Chepstow. She can be expected to do better on this sounder surface but Sheriff Garrett’s course form earns him the vote.

I had a look at the Sandown card but it poured down overnight and the ground is described as soft/heavy in places. Expect a glut of non-runners.

It also rained overnight at Yarmouth but that shouldn’t duly inconvenience OH IT’S SAUCEPOT (3.40). Chris Wall’s filly scored in similar grade at Newmarket at the end of July and third horse Drumochter hosed up yesterday at Bath, admittedly in modestcompany. A 6lb rise shouldn’t stop Oh It’s Saucepot.

EPITAPH (3.10) has had two runs for Mick Appleby since shipping over from Joseph O’Brien and shaped quite nicely when third to Glenys The Menace and the William Haggas-trained favourite Reverend Jacobs at Chester (good to soft). Fifth horse Alexander M hacked up at the weekend and Epitaph had that one more than five lengths adrift. He represents a bit of value against warm favourite Entangling. For ew purposes it’s a pity there are two overnight non-runners but he can be backed for three places on the exchanges.

Stablemate FLYING FANTASY (5.10) was last night priced up a general 20-1 rag for the apprentices’ handicap but that’s far too big a price and he should be bet each-way. Hopefully all eight runners go to post and hot favourite Himalayan Queen, a course and distance scorer in June, is teamed up with a very inexperienced rider whose three previous mounts started at SPs of 66-1, 66-1 and 100-1. I may be doing the rookie rider an injustice but Himalayan Queen is not for me at around 7-4.

Flying Fantasy wears cheek-pieces for the first time and a repeat of his fine Leicester third behind two 75-rated handicappers Manton Grange and Flyboy puts him in a leading chance. He handles soft ground.

It has been dry overnight at Haydock, with no rain forecast, so the ground will probably dry out to good to soft.

DANISH DUKE (3.20) enjoys a bit of cut and goes unpenalised for a clear-cut victory in an apprentices’ handicap at Thirsk last Friday. The gelding escapes a penalty so is 6lb well in and Danish Duke scored back-to-back wins last summer on soft ground. Ruth Carr saddled two sprinters to win at Pontefract yesterday (Cosmic Chatter and Muatadel), and does so well with these older types.

Recommendations

• Wolverhampton 7.05 – SHERIFF GARRETT 13-8 (Paddy Power)
• Haydock 3.20 – DANISH DUKE 6-4 (Paddy Power, BetVictor)
• Yarmouth 3.40 – OH IT’S SAUCEPOT 7-4 (888Sport)
• Yarmouth 3.10 – EPITAPH 3-1 (Coral, Paddy Power)
• Yarmouth 5.10 – FLYING FANTASY ew 15-2 (Paddy Power)

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