6:50 Stratford – Dylan’s Sea Song (16/1) and Ride The Monkey (12/1)
0.5pt win on both
Ride the Monkey
A 2yo winner on the flat, he was rated as high as 75 at a point on the flat for Michael Dods.
He was moved to Oliver Greenall’s yard in late 2019, where he embarked on a juvenile hurdle campaign. His first three runs were disappointing; pulling up twice and finishing last of 10. However, two of those starts were on soft-heavy ground which wouldn’t have suited this flat bred son of Bungle inthejungle.
He put in an encouraging effort on his seasonal reappearance, where he finished 6th in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter. The form of the race isn’t outstanding, but it represented a much improved run and a welcome return to form.
He not runs in a handicap for the first time off a lowly mark of 88. He’s equipped with first time blinkers and Henry Brooke comes to Stratford for just one ride, having ridden the selection on his last start. This trainer/jockey paired up for a winner at Southwell on 4th August.
Dylan’s Sea Song
Having shown some promise in a trio of competitive novice hurdles, DSS was sent off a well fancied 7/2 shot for her handicap debut in February 2020.
She never looked comfortable that day, with the extremely heavy ground counting against her. She has an action that suggests that she needs good ground to be at her best and her sire’s progeny (Dylan Thomas) tend to prefer a sound surface. Hence, you can forgive that run – her trainer even said that “we’ve put a line through that run”
Surprisingly, she was dropped 8lbs for that effort which seems extremely generous.
She also has some good bumper form to her name; her standout performance was when finishing 2nd to the useful mare, Getariver. Patiently ridden, she made relentless headway on the approach to the line to chase the winner who went clear a long way from home. That race has worked out well. The winner is rated 121 over hurdles, the 3rd (Henrietta Bell) is rated 124 and the 4th (Lady in Hiding) placed in a listed bumper on her most recent start.
This lightly raced mare retains potential and she is capable of winning off this mark, especially now she’s back on quick ground.
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