Redcar best bet: Intercessor good value to build on early-season form
- John Fearn
- 20 May 2024
Redcar takes centre stage for Monday afternoon’s Flat racing action, and this one-mile handicap promises to be one of the most competitive races on the card.
16:00 Redcar: Watch Racing TV in Stunning HD Handicap (1 mile)
At the time of writing, Elim and Shaladar are jostling for the favourite tag at the top of the betting market, with the former looking to carry on where he left off during a truncated three-year-old last spring.
Elim backed up a runner-up spot at Newcastle last March with an impressive two-length success at the same venue a fortnight later, and was last seen beating 11 rivals on his turf debut at Musselburgh around this time last year.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Intercessor finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet
His main challenge is expected to come from Kevin Ryan’s Shaladar, who has clocked up six runner-up spots in 13 winless outings since his last victory at Ayr 20 months ago, the most recent of which was on his season reappearance at Beverley last month.
There is clearly an element of doubt against each of the two principals, and their relatively short prices suggest that better betting value might be found a little deeper in the market.
Arctic Mountain enjoyed near-miss figures of 322 in his three outings last summer, and was quickly back in the frame on season debut three weeks ago at Bath, where he blew away a few cobwebs with a decent third-place finish for Saeed bin Suroor.
Suggested best bet: Intercessor in the 16:00 at Redcar
Making the brightest blip on our radar, however, is bottom-weighted Intercessor, who has tasted victory in each of his previous four campaigns, and was off the mark at the third attempt this term, backing up a couple of frame finishes to land a 0-72 handicap at Brighton a month ago.
The seven-year-old was back at the same venue 10 days later, when he ran with similar conviction to make it four placed finishes on the spin when he came a creditable third in slightly higher-class company over a shorter seven-furlong trip.
Now back to his preferred mile distance, his in-form yard has managed to book Marco Ghiani, who makes a rare visit to the Yorkshire course where his only two previous rides have resulted in a win and a place, and it would be no surprise if they were to bring in more each-way profit on Monday afternoon.
- Tip advised by Big Priced Winners on Tipstrr
