The Voice of Value: Wolf can be leader of the pack

I HAVE four selections today at Haydock and Newmarket and unusually for me two of them are near the top of the market.

I do tend to go for bigger prices but the key is value and the four selections today all look like great value.

3.25 Haydock

The first selection is MUTHMIR in the 5 furlong sprint at Haydock. This is a drop down to listed class for a really classy animal who has run admirably in Group 1 contests and has 4lb in hand over the next best rated horse Judicial and most of the field are 10lb or more below him.

We need to remember though this is Judicial’s highest ever rating and MUTHMIR has previously been rated another 5lb higher. He should have the class to take this and the prices look very fair.

3.40 Newmarket

GOLDEN WOLF looks absolutely rock solid to me for each-way purposes. A horse who is improving with each run and has been unlikely to find a couple of very well handicapped horses in his last couple of races. Golden Wolf hasn’t been out of the top three in over a year and I’m hoping he can get his head in front today. Should be a much shorter price than this.

4.00 Haydock

I thought Tabarrak looked a likely winner here but his price is short enough given Dutch Connection and D’Bai are similarly rated and also have a chance.

The each-way angle is of more interest to me though because there are three who aren’t good enough (Muntadab, Lahore, Mr Owen) and one (Emmaus) who is far too short for one that probably prefers soft ground. In an eight-horse field that leaves the three at the top of the market that I mentioned earlier and LARCHMONT LAD for O’Meara and Tudhope who is a whacking big each way price in the circumstances.

Disqualified and placed into 2nd in Ireland at the tail end of last year and a good 3rd place at York recently behind two horses who are going places. With the cheekpieces going on for the first time today I think he looks a great bet for at least a podium finish.

4.35 Haydock

It’s O’Meara and Tudhope again with SUMMERGHAND who has obvious appeal and he is close to being favourite here. That’s no problem for me because I think there is still value in his price and he has a very strong chance in a race where Calder Prince is the only one I would mark out as a strong danger.

Recommended Bets

3.25 Haydock – Muthmir (5-2, bet365, Ladbrokes, William Hill) – 4pts
3.40 Newmarket – Golden Wolf – (17-2, Ladbrokes – paying 4 places) – 2pts ew
4.00 Haydock – Larchmont Lad – (20-1, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Betfair) – 2pts ew
4.35 Haydock – Summerghand – (9-2, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power ) – 3pts