Mossbawn – 4.45 York – 7F Handicap – 50/1 Paddy Power, BFSB, (BetVictor) – 5 Places – BOG – 1 Point each way – LVP 20/1
Neil Mechie doesn’t get too many winners, but he only has half a dozen horses in training and most of them are off basement marks.
When he does acquire a new horse from another trainer who isn’t a basement handicapper, he usually gets the horse fit over the winter and
invariably they run well on their first/second starts.
Consequently, I’m prepared to give Mossbawn a chance. He is drawn 16 of 20, and the two previous winners (only times this race has been run) were both drawn high.
Mossbawn has a good attitude and likes the turf, running 12 times, winning 3, and placing a further 4 times.
He is a specialist 7F runner, so Mechie is giving him every chance on his debut, and whilst his mark is 81 and his three wins have been off 79, 76 & 73, he has
postmarked a high of 91, and with Andrew Breslin claiming 3lb he can win this.
Mossbawn has only raced at York once, and he finished 3rd of 20 (off 79), so we know he acts at the track.
The current 50/1 makes him well overpriced and I therefore recommend 1 point each way.
Topofthecotwsolds – 7.40 Aintree – 3 Mile 1F Handicap Chase – 14/1 Sky, Coral, (best priced 16/1 Bet365) – BOG – 4 places – 1 Point
each way – LVP 10/1
This is a decent quality handicap chase for the time of year and with only 11 runners it’s good to see Coral, Sky, Unibet, and Betfred offering a generous 4 places.
That opens the door for an each-way play on Topofthecotwolds who comes here off a 144-day break, which suits him as he goes well fresh.
A left-handed flat track and good ground is exactly what he wants and off 128 he has a solid chance.
The 14/1 is fair enough and I recommend 1 point each way.