Plumpton Monday 22nd March

It seems the start of this new daily column, which will look to highlight one or two value bets and/or taking advantage of the multiple extra place races each day, has coincided with what could be a fairly lively day on the betting front.

Reminiscent of the threefold multiple gamble on runners at Musselburgh and Southwell on the first Sunday in February, we have a potentially even bigger betting story unfolding today – with four runners from the DJ Jeffreys stable being supported overnight from well into double figure prices, to close to even money about all four. Bookmakers will be on high alert so soon after the February gamble, but nonetheless it would land supporters a pretty penny one would imagine.

As for a selection today, I considered Commis D’Office in the Southwell 1.00, as he is surely a winner in waiting, having bumped into some above average sorts on his last two starts. But he faces off against the first leg of the fourfold in the shape of Notnow Seamus, and also a couple of well-handicapped sorts in Azzurri and Little Light. So perhaps a watching brief necessary there.

Coincidentally, it is a horse that was well beaten behind a well-backed mare trained by DJ Jeffreys last time that I think is the bet of the day. That is the Andy Irvine-trained Mon Petit Cheri, who at 18/1 generally represents a cracking each-way bet in the 1.45 at Plumpton this afternoon.

She was allocated an attractive looking handicap mark of 99, for a horse that had chased home Annual Invictus. But things haven’t quite gone to plan in two handicap starts since, as she got bogged down in the mud at Fakenham, and was then ridden conservatively when upped in trip at Plumpton.

That last run will have suggested to connections that she should have no trouble with the trip, and she has been found a very good opportunity in this mares’ novice hurdle. She has been priced up on account of her supposed inferiority to one or two on handicap marks, but I’d suggest none of the other runners would have the ability to get within hailing distance of Annual Invictus.

So at 18/1, Mon Petit Cheri is way too big, and must be backed each-way in the Plumpton 1.45.