Pick of the Pundits – Punters to moor a winner at Mariners Lodge
Published:It was a miserable Sunday for the pundits with just four of them managing to find a winner and with their reputations on the line, winners are a big priority this week.
With the Galway Summer Festival and Glorious Goodwood lighting up the racecards this week, the Racing Post naps competition entrants and under plenty of pressure in a high profile week.
Only one of the 50 tipsters is looking across the Irish Sea today with Spotlight of the Racing Post napping Sulwaan in the 5.05 at Galway and the pick of the pundits comes from Ayr.
4.00 Ayr: Mariners Lodge – 5/2
It’s not the highest class of handicap at Ayr today but the fact two of the top tipsters in the Racing Post naps competition have tipped up Mariners Lodge make him an interesting prospect.
Rob Wright of the The Times has been on fire this month returning £15.67 for a £1 stake and while The North of the Racing Post can’t match those levels, both tipsters are in profit for the year.
On first glance of the form of Mariner Lodge, it’s a wonder just why Mark Johnston’s three-year-old has been napped in this Class 5 handicap, but when you consider what he is up against, his age is a positive.
Only Petsas Pleasure (4/1) has performed at a consistently high level this season but all of his runs have come at this class or lower and there are plenty who believe there is more to come from Mariners Lodge.
William Haigh’s (5/1) sole run at Southwell in May is form to be worried about if he can transfer his all-weather form to the turf and High Resolution (9/1) must be respected following a drop back in company.
But Mariner’s Lodge is well weighted in comparison to his eight rivals and the extra distance should play into his hands so it’s worth a punt on the favourite.
