Bet of the day: Ashcott Boy in limited handicap at Southwell

Jockey David Noonan has been in the saddle for all three of Ashcott Boy’s successes, so Mulholland has them partnered again for this Southwell assignment.

It looks a poor class 4 handicap on paper with just four horses in the field in total, and it’s little wonder that Ashcott Boy isn’t odds-on to take it.

Top weight no problem

Carrying top weight should hold no fears for this horse that is now rated 111 over fences by the BHA.

Four of Mulholland’s 13 horses to have contested jumps races in the last 14 days have either won or been placed, so that suggests his stable is in decent form.

Ashcott Boy proved a handy hurdler last season, winning two handicaps at Worcester in quick succession during September 2014.

Well-rested ahead of Southwell show

Mulholland has now opted to rest the horse for three-and-a-half months following his chasing exploits, and also saddles race rival Johns Luck.

Unlike Aschott Boy, however, his stablemate has won just one of 20 races over jumps, leaving Henry Oliver’s Moscow Me as the main danger.

Although giving 7lb in the weights, Moscow Me flopped badly at Carlisle last time out over this distance when a 20-length third of four to Morning Royalty. It is Ashcott Boy, then, that is worth siding with at Southwell.

Related

Check out Coral’s previous bets of the day.