4.25pm Yarmouth Tips & Betting Preview 25/04/2017

This is a competitive handicap over 7 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Robyn Brisland’s MASONIC has lost his way slightly since the turn of the year but he can be forgiven for his last run against some smart opposition and take this. He’s returned to 7 furlongs today and with cheekpieces applied for the first time it’s possible he’s on a nice mark. Wurood should be even sharper today for her recent victory whilst Used To Be is worth close market attention at a bigger price.

1 WUROOD – Returned to action at Wolverhampton last month and ran out a comfortable winner of a Class 5 maiden. This is a much tougher assignment but the handicapper has been sensible and has allotted her a fair opening mark of 77. She’ll do well to give weight away to all her rivals here but she is still unexposed and her trainer excels here (34% strike rate). Strong chance of completing the double with more improvement to come.

2 GETGO – Excelebration colt who broke his maiden tag over 7 furlongs at the end of October last year following a string of placed efforts. He begins life in handicaps off a mark of 74 which should be workable, albeit requiring some improvement on his overall form. He looks slightly exposed compared to a few of these and might not provide much value at the prices. His trainer has a 17% strike rate here.

3 USED TO BE – Remains a maiden but he ran with credit at Doncaster in a significantly tougher race than this last season and has been dropped 2lbs in the handicap. He’s been gelded since and looks just the sort to improve in handicaps for a yard with a positive 18% strike rate at Yarmouth. There could be plenty of market support for him here if he’s ready off a 230-day break and remains of interest.

4 BLUE ON BLUE – Has been slightly disappointing in three maiden runs to date. He attempted to make all last time out but he had no chance with a runaway winner and perhaps a return to 7 furlongs may just see him to better effect here. He makes his handicap debut off a mark of 74 which looks reasonable although given his connections are operating at a 34% strike rate in the past fortnight he’s unlikely to provide much value here.

5 DEREK DUVAL – Denied a double by a neck at Wolverhampton last month off a mark of 72. He’s only been raised 2lbs for that effort which looks reasonable and he has another good chance again following a defeat to a rival in form. The yard have a 16% strike rate here and the booking of Pat Cosgrave looks particularly encouraging on an unexposed sort. He steps up to 7 furlongs today which looks ideal and he has solid chances.

6 GLENDUN – Ran to a consistent level last season as a 2yo without looking to be improving much for each run. He’s switched yards since and this is probably the right starting point for him. A mark of 73 still looks slightly on the tough side now dropping down to 7 furlongs and he’s vulnerable to a few improving sorts in this so is probably best watched until the handicapper has shown some leniency.

7 WIDNES – The blinkers didn’t have the same effect as when first worn at Wolverhampton earlier this month and he failed to score off today’s mark. This looks tougher than that test although Adam Kirby is an interesting booking (17% strike rate in the past fortnight) and connections may feel there is yet more to come. If you can forgive his last run he is in with a chance off 2lbs higher but this is tougher.

8 FIRE BRIGADE – Nice enough sort that scored off a mark of 56 having been gelded last Autumn. He followed that run up with a close second off 6lbs higher and he arguably should have won that day having pulled clear of the rest and just faltering late on. He’s up another 7lbs which looks conservative from the handicapper and there’s a slight question mark regarding his temperament. Has ability but isn’t the safest of prospects.

9 MASONIC – Has lost his way a little bit this season with two below-par runs following a decent second at Chelmsford late last year. He’s been gelded this winter and he has to be forgiven for his last run with a few extremely nice sorts in the race. He steps down in trip here with cheekpieces applied for the first time which is interesting and connections clearly feel this will sharpen him up so he’s worth another chance here.

10 PORTO FERRO – Lost her maiden tag at the eighth time of asking in an extremely weak Lingfield maiden and she couldn’t keep tabs on a runaway winner last month over the same C&D. She’s stepped up in trip here to 7 furlongs and whilst it’s positive she’s been dropped 2lbs, she has something to find with a couple of these and could be outclassed here.

11 SEYASAH – Handicap debut today off 68 which makes her interesting with surely more to come than she has shown so far. There was a glimmer of promise when racing over 7 furlongs at Kempton last September when only beaten 4 lengths and she could be well-treated here receiving plenty of weight. If market support arrives she would be of serious interest for a stable with an excellent 26% strike rate here.

12 PROUD KATE – Impossible to fancy here racing from miles out of the handicap. She should be receiving an extra stone in weight from her rivals and she will be seen to much better effect in a weaker grade than this when not disadvantaged by the race conditions. She’s been sent off 100/1, 250/1 and 150/1 on all three career starts and she shouldn’t be far off that again today.