HIT MAC can keep George Boughey’s hot streak going with victory in the Hendo’s Birthday Bash Handicap (7.30) at Chelmsford City on Thursday evening.
Second over this course and distance either side of fifth placings at Wolverhampton and Southwell, the son of Exceed And Excel made his handicap debut over five furlongs at Lingfield eight days ago.
Punters sent Hit Mac off the 3-1 favourite in a field of 10, and my selection came within half a length of netting the money with a running-on second to Man On A Mission.
The British Horseracing Authority handicapper has reacted with a 2lb rise in the weights, so Hit Mac competes from a mark of 57 as he bids for a first career success.
But that’s within range for a horse who has more to offer on the fifth outing of his life, and the return to six furlongs is also a plus.
At Taunton, BALIYAD gets the vote to follow silver medals at Wincanton and Ludlow with gold in the Barry’s Sark To Cheltenham Bee Keeper Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (1.00).
The latter effort came in a claiming event at Ludlow but, back in handicaps, even a reproduction of that effort may suffice in a race that will take little winning.
THURSDAY'S SELECTIONS
NEWCASTLE
12.12 BLUE SHARK
12.42 HASHTAG LORD
1.17 BRETNEY
1.52 IMPERIAL MERLIN
2.22 SINCE DAY ONE
2.52 TELHIMLISTEN
3.22 IMPATIENT
WARWICK
12.20 ARCLIGHT
12.50 BALLYHIGH
1.25 NORTHERN POET
2.00 TARAHUMARA
2.30 MANINTHESHADOWS
3.00 GALIA DES LITEAUX
3.30 CAPTAIN TEAGUE
TAUNTON
12.28 WAJAAHA
1.00 BALIYAD (NB)
1.35 RUBAUD
2.08 MIDNIGHT MIDGE
2.38 ILANZ
3.08 AIRTOTHETHRONE
3.40 CASPERS COURT
CHELMSFORD CITY
4.30 ENGRAVE
5.00 GEORGE RIDSDALE
5.30 OK PAL
6.00 BAAHILL
6.30 DEMI POINTE
7.00 DARWELL LION
7.30 HIT MAC (NAP)
8.00 LUNA QUEEN
8.30 STORM CATCHER
DOUBLE: HIT MAC and BALIYAD
