7.30 Beverley
Mad For Fun 8/1 NAP
Really like the look of Paul Midgley's 3 year old in this looking contest and I strongly fancy her to land this 16 runner Class 6 event. Although a maiden after 8 starts to date, she's looked to have progressed from 2 to 3 and I think she could take an awful lot of beating off her mark of 52. She started her 2 year old career in a Seller at Redcar when finishing last of 4 and after finishing well down the field on her 2nd start in a maiden she showed her first real piece of form in a seller on her 3rd start when finishing 3rd in what has turned out to be a rather poor looking race. However, it was her first notable piece of form. After another mediocre effort in a maiden claimer, she finished 2nd of 4 in a 4 runner seller beaten comfortably by a 65 rated horse before making her handicap debut off a mark of 52 on her final start as a 2 year old. After breaking well and trying to make all over an extended 1m at Leicester, she battled grimly before giving way in the final furlong or so as she finished a 5.75L beaten 5th. Although looking average at the time, it has turned out to be a rather hot nursery.
The front two home that day Spirit of the Law and Takeitfromalady have proven to be much better than their marks that day and are now 29lb and 22lb higher rated respectively winning a combined 6 races between them. Furthermore, the 6th and 8th won on their next starts so it was a much better effort than it appeared on the surface. After a 9 month break, she made her seasonal reappearance and 3 year old debut at Wolves in a 7f Seller at Wolves in May. After being settled towards the rear of the field, Mad For Fun made good progress on the outside before swinging wide coming into the home straight before finishing a never nearer 5.5L beaten 3rd. Although a Seller, the front two home franked the form by winning in handicaps on their next starts off marks of 68 and 54 respectively and given that it was her first start for 9 months it was a rather likeable effort.
On her final start, Mad For Fun undoubtedly put in her best effort to date when going down by a short head at Carlisle on good to firm ground over 7f at the end of May off a mark of 50. After being settled just in behind the pace, Mad For Fun came with what looked a very good looking effort down the outside under apprentice Ned Curtis as she narrowly went down to Robert Winston on Johnny Cavagin. I've watched and rewatched that race several times and I think its very interesting. Firstly, it must be noted that Ned Curtis is 7lb claimer who is his first full season riding and he definitely seems to be a rider who is still learning with every ride. Making her challenge down the outside, Mad For Fun was given a couple of smacks with the whip with 2f to go and one more in the final furlong as she was given rather tender hands and heels riding at the finish. I'm not knocking Curtis at all given he's clearly inexperienced but I certainly think that he had a lot of horse left under him. Nevertheless, the form of that race couldn't be any stronger.
The winner Johnny Cavagin absolutely bolted in by 4L (although it could have been more) on his only subsequent start off a 3lb higher mark as he beat current joint favourite Dream Walker at Doncaster. Further to this the 3rd Pendle lady was beaten by 0.25L on her next start, the 6th was beaten by less than 0.75L on his next two starts and the 7th won by 6L on her next start before following that up by an excellent 2nd. This race has turned out to be a very strong looking Class 6 event and off only a 2lb higher mark I think Mad For Fun looks very capable of scoring off her new mark of 52. In relation to todays race, Mad For Fun definitely looks like she has the beating of current joint favourite Dream Walker on a line through Johnny Cavagin and I think the fact she is a bigger price makes her very good value. She'll face very similar conditions as to what she faced on her last start and the extra 0.5f trip should be absolutely no problem at all. Micky Fenton takes the ride on Paul Midgley's 3 year old and the trainer and jockey in good form at present. With a good draw in stall 5 that should hopefully see Fenton sit just off the pace, I'm very confident for of a big showing from this relatively unexposed filly and if progressing from her last run then I see her going very close to landing this Class 6 contest.
