At a big price, I’ve been tempted into having a bet on Ubak in the Grade-2 Fuller’s London Pride Novices’ Chase. Not seen on track since 2013, his trainer Gary Moore has him “as fit as we can get him at home” so he might be a snip at 22/1…
1pt win Beast Of Burden @7/2, Newbury 14:10
There’s some nice racing at Newbury on Thursday, with the Grade 2 Bet365 Novices’ Chase standing out. French Champion Hurdle winner Un Temps Pour Tout is the favourite after a solid chase bow at Cheltenham’s Open meeting. He was beaten by the outsider Vicente that day, a defeat that his…
0.5pts win Rolling Mall @20/1, Exeter 14:00
Early season novice chases are often full of value, with race fitness and sharpness so often the excuse for beaten favourites. The 14:00 at Exeter has a short-priced favourite, Fletchers Flyer, making his chase debut and seasonal reappearance on heavy ground. The same can be said of the second favourite,…
1pt win Emperor's Choice @6/1, Betfair Handicap Chase (Class 3), 12:40 Haydock
This is a tricky little handicap to unravel and acting as a pre-cursor to the Betfair Chase later in the day, it is in all honesty a weak affair by comparison. Harry The Viking, a Scottish Grand National runner last year is a decent stayer and off a mark of…
1pt double Irving, Brother Tedd @5/1
Typical of this stage of the season, only four contest Saturday’s Betfair Price Rush Hurdle at Haydock (13:50), with recent Wincanton winner Irving the market leader for Paul Nicholls. Melodic Rendezvous was seven lengths behind him on the day and, despite getting his favourite deep ground, looks highly unlikely to…
1pt win Holywell @25/1, Haydock 15:00
The highlight of Saturday’s action is the first Grade 1 race of the British National Hunt season: the Betfair Chase over three miles at Haydock. Last year’s winner Silviniaco Conti – who also won the race in 2013 – heads the market shading odds-on as a 10/11 favourite. That’s in part due to…
Performance update (+104.89pts)
Jumps racing is back in full swing and we’re off the mark with Wolf Of Windlesham returning at 12/1 at Cheltenham’s Open meeting. There was no such luck in the big race, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, where we came close with Sound Investment running a blinder under top weight.…
1.5pts win Maputo @11/4, Cheltenham 13:00
Maputo, a smart performer on the flat, has taken to hurdling really well and has won all four starts so far with ease. This is his biggest test to date but there’s little reason to doubt his chances besides the ground, which is probably easier than he’d like. Nicky Henderson’s…
2pts Johns Spirit to be placed @7/2, Cheltenham 14:25 (NAP)
As handicappers go, a big performance from Johns Spirit around Cheltenham’s Old Course rates as something of a banker. The winner of this, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, in 2013, he was mugged at the line by a fast-finishing Caid Du Berlais in 2014 after shooting clear from the chasing…
1pt double win Romain De Senam, Un Temps Pour Tout @6/1
I’ve already talked up the chances of Romain De Senam in the 12:40 – I fancy him to handle the soft ground and build on the promise of his impressive British hurdle debut – so he’s takes the first slot in Saturday’s double. At the weights it’s hard to oppose French Champion…