Clive Robinson
The first horse bettors will encounter (Race 1, No 1) Teerex, is likely the best bet on what is otherwise a tough card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.
He ran in the first of this season’s juvenile races and finished second. He had opened at odds of around 16-1.
Teerex found just one better in superb-looking filly Sovereign Grant that day but should be hard to beat this time as he has already beaten six of the nine runners in this Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
Trainer comments on the two debutants Almond Butter and Crooner are positive, so watch for betting support before placing bets.
Aspoestertjie, who runs in Race 5, a M 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, could be the best value proposition on the day.
Being by Coup De Grace out of a Galileo mare, Apoestertjie was expected to need ground, especially as she had lagged behind the pace in earlier tries over sprints. But as it turned out she lacked a finish when tried over further.
But she changed trainers and on her debut for trainer Carl Hewitson she was dropped to the minimum distance and it worked a charm. She produced a strong turn of foot to beat males going away and did so in quite a decent time.
She is meeting hard knockers this time but she has more scope than her rivals and due to her patchy form could jump at generous odds.
Another runner who looks worth a solid each-way bet is Iron Will, who has secured the best of the draws in Race 6, a MR 78 Handicap over 1600m. This four-year-old gelding ran a below-par race in his penultimate, but it could be that Keagan De Melo gets the best out of him.
In his two rides De Melo got him to beat Grade 1 Cape Guineas contender Money Heist and last time out he took Captain Casey to the wire, giving him 4.5kg. It looks the right kind of race for him, and he should add to his tally.
There is plenty of rain about and if it carries on, Bright Star (Race 2) and Corsican (Race 8) could take advantage in their respective heats. Winning exotic bets should be most rewarding.
