A Possible Improver

The Nutcracker did exactly as expected, and ended up winning at the insane price of 10/1! A superb ride by Lynch, (as much as it pains me to say it!) and a welcome winner for Tom Gibney, who has hit the crossbar on a number of occasions in the last couple of months. Hopefully the good run can continue for the blog today, and the selection is a horse that has caught my eye during his last couple of runs, and is bred to appreciate the step up in trip he gets this afternoon.
Hookergate Grammar's form figures of 09-47 do not look too attractive when you first look at them. Sometimes all is not what it seems though, especially in this game, and it was his penultimate run, his last run in a maiden, that has sparked my interest in him today. He was ridden by Paul Mulrennan(back on board today) and was tenderly handled, meeting trouble in running and stayed on well in the closing stages over a mile on fast ground at Redcar, still looking as green as grass. Everything about this run suggested a step up in trip would suit, but it seemed that 9f was not enough, as he got outpaced before staying on well again in the final furlong under tender handling (again) on his handicap debut.
The handicapper has generously dropped him 2lbs for that effort, and he gets to race off 62 today. His pedigree suggests that this mark could be lenient over this sort of trip (12f).He is a gelded son of Yeats, and 3 of his 4 siblings have won already, including a half brother by Elusive City that scored over 12f. off a mark of 73. His dam is a daughter of Peintre Celebre, and out of  the group 1 Japan Cup(12f) runner up Ode. This is a seriously well bred horse and at some stage he is going to make a mockery of his handicap mark. The step up to 12f could mean that today is the day, and at the best current odds of 14/1 he looks well worth a little each way support.

Selection: 4.20 Haydock: Hookergate Grammar 14/1