Injuries to Faugheen and Arctic Fire and the retirement of dual-winner Hurricane Fly means none of the placed horses in last year’s Champion Hurdle will re-compete. In fact, the only likely runner from last year’s race is The New One, whose trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has been in bullish mood in recent weeks…
Author: Joel Roberts
1pt win Pilansberg @7/1, 14:00 Kempton
Alan King’s Gibralfaro has been given a lofty rating of 151 ahead of his tilt at the Triumph Hurdle, for which this Grade 2 juvenile hurdle has provided a few winners in the past. If such a rating is to be believed, he’s very well-in at the weights with St…
1pt win Oceane @14/1, 15:05 Kempton
Alan King saddles two for this two-mile novices’ hurdle at Kempton, with Barry Gerraghty taking the ride on Winter Escape in the McManus silks. He was last seen a few weeks back easing home on the bridle to record back-to-back successes at Doncaster. Bookies and punters alike seem to see…
0.5pt win West Approach @100/1, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Cheltenham 18th March
We’ve been closely following Colin Tizzard’s WEST APPROACH this season, twice backing him at Cheltenham with exactly nothing returned. It’s his breeding that appeals, as he’s by the same sire as reigning World Hurdle champ Cole Harden and out of the same dam as the ante-post favourite for his crown, Thistlecrack.…
1pt win Silviniaco Conti @4/1, 15:35 Ascot
Its close proximity to Cheltenham Festival gives this Grade 1 a false feeling – nevertheless, a quality field has assembled containing a dual-King George and Aintree Bowl winner, a Ryanair winner, a Hennessy winner and an ex-Champion Chaser. The obvious place to start is SILVINIACO CONTI, a serial Grade 1 winner…
1pt win At Fishers Cross @9/2, 14:05 Haydock
Reve De Sivola looks up against it trying to give 8lbs away on heavy ground in this Grade 2 stayers’ hurdle. He ran a blinder behind Thistlecrack at his favourite track – Ascot – earlier in the season, before reconfirming his dislike for fences when fifth last month here at…
2pts win Drumacoo @9/4, 13:50 Ascot
Only six go to post for this Grade 2 over just shy of three miles at Ascot. All known form points in the direction of DRUMACOO, who in receiving 4lbs from his closest market rival has to be the bet at 9/4. That rival is Onenightinvienna, who recently got to within three lengths of RSA…
25/1 Black Hercules to win the RSA Chase
It’s less than a month until jump racing’s biggest week, the Cheltenham Festival, and most of the betting markets have taken shape. Many horses remain in multiple races and there’s often plenty of value in guessing where they end up, as that uncertainty keeps the prices out. Some punters avoid the fancy…
Cheltenham Festival ante-post update, 8th February
A pretty good week for our ante-post selections. Triumph Hurdle favourite Ivanovich Gorbatrov was well beaten in the Grade 1 juvenile event at Leopardstown on Saturday, and drifted accordingly. AP McCoy spoke publically about the risk in ruling out his chances, pointing towards improvement on better spring ground, so he’s…
1pt win Delusionofgrandeur @8/1, 15:30 Musselburgh
Four go to post for this trial for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival and the betting suggests it’s a match between O O Seven and Fagan, who both have strong form claims and trade around the evens mark despite both making the big step up from two miles to three.…