BBOTD - Saturday 6th July

[robertob]

16.40 Haydock: Mabait @ 16/1 Bet365 Was very keen on Mabait's chance at Salisbury recently, but the race wasn't ran to suit him due to a very slow pace and then he was very keen, travelling without cover on the outside in rear and had absolutely no chance from that position. As a result he dropped a couple of pounds in the mark and looks now super well handicapped of a mark off 85, judged on his penultimate run at York. Wrote the following before his last race which largely still applies tomorrow:

I'm a bit excited about this chance as I feel Mabait could be very, very well handicapped tomorrow, coming down a long way in the mark and showing an impressive return to form at Newbury in a competitive Handicap recently. He travelled like a dream for a very long time, and the jockey looked to have loads of horse beneath but then when it mattered he couldn't find a gap and was short of room over 2f out. Mabait showed then something that you don't see that often or only from horses who are in really fine form or have something in hand, as he switched to the left, found quickly back his balance and quickened in a matter of strides - just to find himself short of room around the 1f marker again. Race over obviously then, but it was a hugely impressive performance in my mind and this goes along with his current handicap mark which hasn't been as low since 2009! Of course his last win dates back a couple of years too, but he ran in top class races and had to shoulder big weights. He steps up to 1m tomorrow again, which is perfectly fine as well as he gets his beloved fast ground. Slight worry is the jockey booking with Laura Pike not being an overly strong apprentice but she rides okay actually and her 5lb claim is well worth. I would think if Mabait gets a clear run the little girl doesn't need to do much anyway except of avoiding a fall.

[joeblitz]

Re: BBOTD - Saturday 6th July 3.50 Sandown Al Kazeem 9/4 Paddy Power BOG Al Kazeem has gone from strength to strength this year hopefully ending the career of Camelot en route! Lto he won the Price of Wales Stakes at Ascot looking by far the best horse in the race. Declaration Of War won the Queen Anne lto and may improve for the step up in trip but perhaps a bigger danger might be Mars who has not yet fullfilled his potential. I have no doubts that he will prove to be better than any of these this year but for now it has to be Al Kazeem who in addition to having the best form in the race at this trip is also a cd winner. If I didn't tip him tomorrow I should really be committed for life. It is he who the others have to beat not the other way around!