Bets on Monday 3rd February 2014

4th and 2nd today. Both ran well but not well enough to end my agony. 

15.10 Wolverhampton: Maggie Pink @ 7/2 Bet365 - 3pts win

Two very decent performances from Maggie Pink in better class following her decisive win over course and distance in December in a similar race. She's only four pounds higher in the mark now and I feel she can win a race like this off that kind of mark. She was really good at Southwell in a hot class 4 Handicap where she set a rattling pace and finished a fine 3rd in the end. This form works out exceptionally well too. One week ago at Kempton she overcame a wide draw to take up the early lead setting a good pace once again. She tired badly inside the final furlong as a result but still held on as good as possibe. That was a strong race but she drops in class tomorrow and can go from pole position. 

17.10 Wolverhampton: Birdman @ 5/1 Paddy Power - 3pts win

I was extremely impressed with Birdman at Lingfield two weeks ago when he came from last to first in a big field having an awful lot to do turning for home but he won going away in the end and like a horse way ahead of his mark. He was a pretty decent 2yo and as high rated as 108 but wasn't able to confirm the promise. He slipped down the mark and ranks down to 89 and ran well at Kempton off this mark, while unseating his rider in the next start and then showed this tremendous performance at Lingfield. Up to 93 now which looks still more than fair and he should go well again. 

16.30 Kempton: Mountain Range @ 5/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Mountain Range comes down to a handy mark again and he appeared to be pretty luckless in his latest start over 10f at Kempton. He was trailing a big field which is never an advantage over Kempton's 10f course and so it was here. Turning for home he not only faced an impossible task, no he got also stuck in traffic until 1f out when he got a bit of space and ran on extremely well. He's only 1lb above his last winning mark which came over course and distance back in June and I expect a big run from him.