Margret Could Bounce Back At Haydock

Emily Bronte is famous for producing a masterpiece for the ages on the one occasion that she wrote a novel. Emilie Bronte, on the other hand, produced the exact opposite to a masterpiece at Beverley. In fact, her run was something that would be more at home in a Stephen King novel.

She broke well but was quickly behind and, unlike on her handicap debut when she stayed on late, this time she made absolutely no progress. There is nothing worse than putting in the effort of studying the form, watching replays, writing the blog and then having a bet, only for the horse to run an absolute stinker. Those are the perils when tipping up these long shots and it why I always advise to keep stakes small. Hopefully we can get a better run for our money with Thursday's tip.

Margrets Gift goes in the class 4 5f handicap at 8.45 and this 5yo daughter of Major Cadeaux is a three time winner, all coming over 5f on good ground or better at Ayr and Beverley. She managed to win two class 5 handicaps last season, the first coming at Ayr (5f gd/fm) last April off a mark of 70. Her next victory came in August off a mark of 72 at Beverley on good ground and she subsequently struggled off her revised mark of 76.

She returned to action at Southwell in April, a run that was clearly designed to blow away the cobwebs after her winter break. She ran an okay race on soft ground next time at Thirsk over 5f, beaten 4L off 74. She was sent off at just 7/1 on her return to quick ground at Nottingham last time (6f) but she was hampered at the start and was unable to recover. She has been left on the same mark of 73 and she was a decent 4th here off that mark in June of last year. She was also a good 3rd here on her only other visit so she clearly handles the track. Odds of 18/1 look very tempting to me and with trip, ground and track all sure to suit hopefully she can reward each way support.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 8.45 HAYDOOCK-MARGRETS GIFT E/W 18/1