Boy Could Be Top Gun Back At Newmarket

I somehow managed to pick out another non-runner in Go Bananas earlier this week and I am making a habit of it at this stage. It is very frustrating, but such is life and these things happen. Seemingly she didn’t eat up, and better that she be withdrawn than run and not be at her best. Tomorrow I am backing an old favourite of mine at a monstrous price at Newmarket, but don’t worry, my reasoning is far from sentimental.

 

Top Boy winning at York (far right).

Top Boy is a horse that owes me nothing having landed a massive touch for me at York a couple of years ago. It is hard believe that he hasn’t managed to get his head back in front on grass since, but he has more than paid his way on the all weather for his ultra shrewd handler Derek Shaw. He loves it around Chelmsford and has won there on three occasions, but a couple of his best turf efforts since that York win have come on the July course at Newmarket.

Now off a turf mark of 81, he gets to race off a lovely weight there on Thursday in the 5f John Deere Handicap at 16.35. His last run over this course and distance came last July and he ran a cracker to be 3rd behind Soie De Leau and Primrose Valley off a mark of 79, beaten just over a length. In July 2015 he dead heated for 2nd over this c&d off 84, beaten a head when not getting the clearest of passages. Earlier in June 2015 he was only beaten a length by Humidor, again off 84, so off a mark of 81 he looks well capable of getting involved tomorrow.

He had his first turf run for some time at Doncaster (6f) 12 days ago off 82, and he may have finished 6th but he wasn’t beaten far at all and it was a very good run over a trip he has yet to win at. He has been dropped a pound for that run and he will be suited by the return to 5f at Newmarket. Franny Norton takes over in the saddle and he was an unlucky 3rd on Top Boy at York a couple of years back so he knows the horse well.

He has 2 wins and 2 places from just 6 rides for Shaw this season, and when he is booked for this yard they usually mean business. Top Boy is suited by a strong pace at this trip and with 16 sprinters going to post the race should be run to suit him. He has run well on his last three visits to the July course, he is 6lb below the mark off which he last won on turf and at odds of 40/1 surely he has to be worth chancing for small stakes e/w.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.35 NEWMARKET-TOP BOY E/W @ 40/1