Forget about chocolate eggs - it's time to focus on some Easter Monday racing. Here, we take a look at the best bets ahead of a busy day of racing.
REDCAR
Race 1 – Freedom Day 7/4
It always catches the eye when the Gosdens send one north and Freedom Day could get off the mark in Redcar’s opening Welcome Back To Redcar Racecourse Novice Stakes. Sixth, not beaten far, behind three subsequent Group winners on debut, he again mixed it with credit with some smart operators at Sandown on his second outing. Gelded since, he moves up to a mile for his three-year-old return and there is a good chance he has made the necessary strides to strike in this company over the winter.
Race 6 – Blind Beggar 7/2
Blind Beggar bumped into an on-song Aleezdancer when second at Doncaster last week, but considering the potential of the winner looks to have a real chance of picking up some compensation off the same rating in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap.
Race 8 – Smile and Pay 11/2
Smile And Pay could be lurking dangerously in the Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Handicap. Craig Lidster’s charge produced a fine effort to finish third behind two high-class rivals on Town Moor earlier this month. The winner of that contest, Theoryofeverything is being talked of as a candidate for Group One races later in the year while the runner-up, Godolphin’s Striking Star, was sent off the favourite for the Horris Hill on his penultimate outing. Smile And Pay was just under two lengths adrift of Charlie Appleby’s charge at the finish, and although receiving plenty of weight, it suggests he could be much better than his current rating of 53.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 – Wild Hurricane 11/8
Another to keep an eye on at Dunstall Park is Saeed bin Suroor’s Wild Hurricane, who had every chance to go by the winner when a beaten favourite over the course and distance on debut but is sure to have smartened up for that racecourse outing ahead of the At The Races App Form Study Novice Stakes.
Race 6 – Masque of Anarchy 7/1
Lidster could also be on the scoresheet at Wolverhampton where Masque Of Anarchy could bounce back to his best in the At The Races App Expert Tips Handicap. Although well held in two outings on the synthetics before Christmas, he has a good record fresh and is still only 1lb higher than when a close second in a competitive Newmarket handicap last September.
PLUMPTON
Race 4 – Black Gerry 11/4
At Plumpton, Gary Moore’s Black Gerry can scoop the feature Betgoodwin Sussex Champion Chase. The eight-year-old recorded a going away five-length victory over the well-regarded Frere D’Armes at Ascot recently and could be difficult to stop under a 7lb penalty at a track his handler enjoys plenty of success at.
Race 7 – Carrigmoorna Rowan 15/8
There could also be more to come from Carrigmoorna Rowan in the bumper. Harry Fry’s charge commanded £85,000 following an easy victory in the pointing field last April and there was plenty of promise in his Exeter third on rules debut in November.
