GYTO Thursday Notebook Double

I’m convinced MOHATU should be coming here on a hat-trick as he looked to be coming with a winning run before running into the back of Mighty River at Lingfield last time. He tried to recover but the winner had flown. That race was quite tactical and in hindsight it didn’t suit him but he still managed to get as close as he did so he is definitely one to keep on side going forward. That was his first start in a handicap and he runs off the same mark here so looks a step ahead of the assessor for now. The danger may well be Dagmar Run who showed a good attitude to get up and win at Kempton back in November and wasn’t disgraced on handicap debut earlier this month. The winner ran well next time out so the form looks pretty solid. He is just 1lb higher and should make a race of it. Brave Emperor is on a roll but a 7lb rise was enough to put me off.

I’ve been waiting for IRON BRIDGE to run again as he has won 2 from 3 over fences so far and looks a lovely prospect for Jonjo O’Neill. I know it was just a match he won at Haydock but the horse he beat Crystal Glory is a nice type and his win at Carlisle back in October still sticks in the mind. He is obviously open to further improvement and I’m keen to stay on the right side of him here and going forward as well. He is the type to be targeted at some big pots down the line so connections will be hopeful he can win this. Viva Lavilla was well backed at Kempton but looked held before coming down at the last. He was also behind the selection at Carlisle prior to that disappointment. It’s obviously still early days and this point winner will improve at some point but best watched for now. Ubetya might be a bigger danger as while he also has ground to make up he is going the right way.