BILLYJOH is expected to gain compensation for an unlucky defeat at Chelmsford City last month when he locks horns with 11 rivals for the Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap (3.38) at Southwell today.
Mick Appleby’s son of Mayson has yet to hit the bullseye in six attempts but hasn’t had the rub of the green - he endured a troubled passage over course and distance in September, and it was a similar story at the Essex Showground on his most recent outing.
On the back of a sluggish beginning, Billyjoh and Freddy Larson - Ali Rawlinson is in the saddle today - found his path blocked in the home straight before running on to take fourth, beaten three necks, behind Cuban Breeze.
The British Horseracing Authority handicapper has left my selection on a mark of 72 and, granted luck in running and with more to come on the seventh outing of his career, Billyjoh gets a confident vote to get his head in front.
Half an hour earlier, TSUNAMI SPIRIT should give his opponents weight and a beating in the Win £2,000,000 with BetMGM’s Golden Goals Nursery Handicap (3.08).
Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve banBenoit De La Sayette’s mount missed out by just a neck at Catterick Bridge on his debut in this sphere, and has the as-yet untapped potential to go one better here.
Thursday's selections
EXETER
12.55 VALADON
1.25 SHUIL CEOIL
1.55 MAYHEM MYA
2.25 JOKER DE MAI
2.55 ENJOY YOUR LIFE
3.25 NAVAJO INDY
3.55 FLASH GORCOMBE
SOUTHWELL
2.38 EASY EQUATION
3.08 TSUNAMI SPIRIT (NB)
3.38 BILLYJOH (NAP)
4.10 EXALTED ANGEL
4.45 CABEZA DE LLAVE
5.15 DYNAMISTE
5.45 KHANGAI
6.15 LOCHNAVER
CHELMSFORD CITY
4.30 GUY FAWKES
5.00 VIA BLANCA
5.30 PANDORA’S GIFT
6.00 QAZAQ
6.30 NOTRE DAME
7.00 RIOT
7.30 HAVECHATMA
8.00 LEGENDE D’ART
8.30 GRAND DUCHESS OLGA
DOUBLE: BILLYJOH and TSUNAMI SPIRIT