The Mammoth Project(IRE) Handicap
The MAMMOTH PROJECT(IRE) Handicap Stakes:
This week
PP1: IGOLD 20/1
Despite being the outsider of the field, Igold doesn’t have to bad a form leading into this race. He won 2 and been placed twice out of his last 6 starts. Forgetting his last couple of runs he has shown he can hold his own at Alw level. The dominating factor is the big step up in distance from 1mile to 2miles, and he is also untried at the distance. I guess this is the reason the bookies have him going off at long odds.
PP2: BABY MIX(FR) 8/1
A tough runner to get a guide on. Trainer ganador, has elected to which his charger from the dirt track, where he has had 80% of his runs to turf where he has had 4 starts for a minor ITM. He last run over the 2 miles was 4 starts ago when he finished 5th, but was beaten by a margin of 29 lengths and recorded a moderate SP# of 78. Big ask here and will need to improve. Selection of jockey S Smelt ( 25 – 1 – 1 – 0 – 4% ) doesn’t help.
PP3: ELYSIAN Even
All the rage in the market and every reason to be, Elysian is in career best form, having won 5 of its past 8 races and placed in 2 others. Having won 11 from 26 lifetime starts, shows what time and planning isolde has put into this horse. Its last start over this distance was a cruise, leading all the way and beating the 2nd horse by 4 lengths. Royally bred this 5yo horse looks set for bigger things. The only worry is its lack of racing in this class, but it’s also fair to say some of these horses are barely black type. Top jock on board P Bangs ( 312 – 78 – 59 – 46 – 25% ). The punters don’t have a worry, so why should we??
PP4: RAINBOW STAR(GB) 5/2
A horse that has been mixing races between dirt and turf of recent. Form has been a bit so-so of late, but last start hit some back with a SP#99 when running 3rd in an open Alw.
That run was a 8f dirt open Alw, where as today is a much different task. Seems to me this horse would be suited to a dirt mile race, not the staying test of a 2 mile turfer. Well under the odds for my liking, and would be surprised to see him run a place.
PP5: GORO 7/1
Goro is the absolute dark-horse of the field. He’s got good form in this class, track and distance, with his last race being a 2nd in a turf 2 mile in stakes company. He likes to lead in his races, but seems to run out of puff when the sprint goes on. His best chance would be to sit off front running favorite Elysian and try and get a cart into the race off his back. Lets hope we don’t see him cutting throats out in front with Elysian of we could see him not make the distance.
PP6: SIR ECTOR DE MARYS(GB) 9/1
Another horse that likes to lead, but without much success in recent times. He has been racing over longer distances but nothing over the distance of the grueling 2 miles. Will need to improve and try to get a sit on the leaders to ensure he doesn’t get run off his legs in the early stages of the race. Not without a chance of filling the placings.
PP7: FELINE FURY 8/1
A very lightly raced 8yo horse, Feline Fury has won 3 from 10 starts. Trainer flushed has keep racing this horse over the 16f distance in pervious weeks despite being beaten by margins of 12 and 13 lengths. 3 starts back he won a nice Alw race over 12f by 3 lengths, but that was on dirt, as have been all of his last 7 races. The switch to turf is a concern, but he is tried at the distance. Keep safe.
Whisper of the wizard (value bet):
Well, as there is no value in taking clearly the best horse and probably the winner in Elysian, the best option is to take Goro each-way. He is not without his chance of winning if N Gellic ( 29 – 3 – 5 – 2 – 10% ) rides him correctly. Lets hope we see a strong, tough 16f race, not just a bunch of hurdlers going at it.