Monday 23rd July

rossom

7.30 Beverley

Mad For Fun 8/1 NAP

Really like the look of Paul Midgley's 3 year old in this looking contest and I strongly fancy her to land this 16 runner Class 6 event. Although a maiden after 8 starts to date, she's looked to have progressed from 2 to 3 and I think she could take an awful lot of beating off her mark of 52. She started her 2 year old career in a Seller at Redcar when finishing last of 4 and after finishing well down the field on her 2nd start in a maiden she showed her first real piece of form in a seller on her 3rd start when finishing 3rd in what has turned out to be a rather poor looking race. However, it was her first notable piece of form. After another mediocre effort in a maiden claimer, she finished 2nd of 4 in a 4 runner seller beaten comfortably by a 65 rated horse before making her handicap debut off a mark of 52 on her final start as a 2 year old. After breaking well and trying to make all over an extended 1m at Leicester, she battled grimly before giving way in the final furlong or so as she finished a 5.75L beaten 5th. Although looking average at the time, it has turned out to be a rather hot nursery.

The front two home that day Spirit of the Law and Takeitfromalady have proven to be much better than their marks that day and are now 29lb and 22lb higher rated respectively winning a combined 6 races between them. Furthermore, the 6th and 8th won on their next starts so it was a much better effort than it appeared on the surface. After a 9 month break, she made her seasonal reappearance and 3 year old debut at Wolves in a 7f Seller at Wolves in May. After being settled towards the rear of the field, Mad For Fun made good progress on the outside before swinging wide coming into the home straight before finishing a never nearer 5.5L beaten 3rd. Although a Seller, the front two home franked the form by winning in handicaps on their next starts off marks of 68 and 54 respectively and given that it was her first start for 9 months it was a rather likeable effort.

On her final start, Mad For Fun undoubtedly put in her best effort to date when going down by a short head at Carlisle on good to firm ground over 7f at the end of May off a mark of 50. After being settled just in behind the pace, Mad For Fun came with what looked a very good looking effort down the outside under apprentice Ned Curtis as she narrowly went down to Robert Winston on Johnny Cavagin. I've watched and rewatched that race several times and I think its very interesting. Firstly, it must be noted that Ned Curtis is 7lb claimer who is his first full season riding and he definitely seems to be a rider who is still learning with every ride. Making her challenge down the outside, Mad For Fun was given a couple of smacks with the whip with 2f to go and one more in the final furlong as she was given rather tender hands and heels riding at the finish. I'm not knocking Curtis at all given he's clearly inexperienced but I certainly think that he had a lot of horse left under him. Nevertheless, the form of that race couldn't be any stronger.

The winner Johnny Cavagin absolutely bolted in by 4L (although it could have been more) on his only subsequent start off a 3lb higher mark as he beat current joint favourite Dream Walker at Doncaster. Further to this the 3rd Pendle lady was beaten by 0.25L on her next start, the 6th was beaten by less than 0.75L on his next two starts and the 7th won by 6L on her next start before following that up by an excellent 2nd. This race has turned out to be a very strong looking Class 6 event and off only a 2lb higher mark I think Mad For Fun looks very capable of scoring off her new mark of 52. In relation to todays race, Mad For Fun definitely looks like she has the beating of current joint favourite Dream Walker on a line through Johnny Cavagin and I think the fact she is a bigger price makes her very good value. She'll face very similar conditions as to what she faced on her last start and the extra 0.5f trip should be absolutely no problem at all. Micky Fenton takes the ride on Paul Midgley's 3 year old and the trainer and jockey in good form at present. With a good draw in stall 5 that should hopefully see Fenton sit just off the pace, I'm very confident for of a big showing from this relatively unexposed filly and if progressing from her last run then I see her going very close to landing this Class 6 contest.

rossom

8.00 Beverley

Collateral Damage 5/1 NB

The most frustrating horse I've ever come across as he was clearly being fiddled with for ages before finally getting back to winning way on his last start. Of course, I wasn't on that day as I was waiting for connections land a gamble on him at a much bigger price but he scored in good style and now he's won I can definitely see him going on to run up a sequence. Before his last start, Tim Easterby's 9 year old was winless since 2009 but he has become ridiculously well handicapped as he had fallen 26lb below that success when scoring off a mark of 66 on his last start on heavy ground at Hamilton. I think two things factored into his latest success which were he raced much closer to the pace and the return to testing conditions which he seems to relish. He won rather impressively earlier this month by 1.5L and I'm absolutely shocked the handicapper has only raised him 2lb for that effort. The form of that race has taken a couple of big boosts recently from the 3 horses that have raced since. The 2nd Master of Dance scored off the same mark on his next start whilst the 5th Christmas Light went down by a short head in a better race off a 2lb lower mark after being touched off by Lockantanks who has gone in again since. Furthermore the 4th High Resolution came a good 2nd on his only start to solidify the form. Collateral Damage returns to a Beverley track where he has yet to win on but has run well enough on a couple of occasions and although not ideal it shouldn't be a bigger problem. He'll face good to firm ground tomorrow which again isn't ideal but he has won off a mark of 85 on this ground before so I don't think it should prove too much of an issue off a mark of 68. Stable jockey David Allan takes over from James Sullivan in the saddle tomorrow and if connections want him to win then I think he should improve incredibly hard to beat now he has rediscovered the winning verve.

UrbanSea

I'm glad I'm no the only one who missed collateral damage after I backed him about the last 4 times

rossom

Mad For Fun was a blatant non trier in my eyes tonight.

kryogen

From my viewing of the race it seemed as if he was trying alright, just couldn't go with them, then got tailed off. Might be something wrong with the horse a little maybe

getonmyhorse

rossom wrote: »

Mad For Fun was a blatant non trier in my eyes tonight.

Would have to agree with that to be fair! Seemed a bit keen early on but wasnt asked a serious question at all! Frustrating but one for the notebook

rossom

getonmyhorse wrote: »

Would have to agree with that to be fair! Seemed a bit keen early on but wasnt asked a serious question at all! Frustrating but one for the notebook

I've asked a fair few people to have a look for me and the vast majority agree that he didn't try really. It was very hard to see on the small screen but it looked as if Fenton nearly went out the side door at the start of the race. Horse likes to be prominent and I really don't think Fenton tried once to put her into the race. Notebook job indeed

torres9kop

Well done patrick power. Lol

ft9

Hey Nando, any more 7/2 football naps on the go?

themandan6611

torres9kop wrote: »

Well done patrick power. Lol

he's back, hooray

torres9kop

The gas thing is these naps are finishing last or 2nd last. Couldnt be more wrong. The odd one gets placed. Keep backing them lads. Football back in 3 weeks. 3 horse race instead of 20 horse race. Do the math. I repeat racings for mugs

torres9kop

ft9 wrote: »

Hey Nando, any more 7/2 football naps on the go?

Liverpool for prem this year. Lump

ft9

Lol! I'll lay you that one!