Crouch's Claim To Prove Key For Goldie

With seven meetings on Friday you would think it would be easy to find a winner. That is not the case however, with the old cliché 'quantity over quality' springing to mind. There is one horse that catches my eye though, and he goes in the 5.15 at York for the on fire Jim Goldie. 

Mr.Goldie's form figures for his last seven runners read 3131913, an indication that he is a trainer bang in form. He has three entries at York tomorrow, and a case can be made for all of them. However, the one I like best is Ronald Gee, who goes in the finale, an apprentice handicap over 12F, and who has the more than capable Hector Crouch in the saddle. 

This 8yo gelding is lightly raced for his age, having only had 16 starts during his career, and the best he has managed is three second places. However, these stand out efforts all came over today's trip of 12F, with his two best runs coming over the distance on good ground, conditions he will get today. 

Last time out at Musselburgh he ran a cracker, kicking clear and only getting reeled in late on going down by less than a length. That was off a career low mark of 58, and the handicapper has reacted accordingly, raising him to 60. 

He steps up in class too today to a Class 4 event (Musselburgh was Class 6) and there is no doubting that this is a stronger heat. However, the fact that his pilot can claim a valuable 5lbs off his back means he gets to race off an equivalent mark of 55, 3lbs lower than last time out. A repeat of that run should see Ronald Gee hit the frame, and the way that Mr.Goldie's horses have been running gives even more encouragement. His current odds of 10/1 look overly generous to me, and he looks worthy of each way support. 

Selection: 5.15 York: Ronald Gee (10/1) each way.