For the second year running Willie Mullins and his star chaser Douvan have let down ante-post punters by flirting with participation in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek… before pulling the plug at final declarations. Zzz. Sadly it’s left just Fox Norton as a truly top-class participant in this year’s renewal.…
0.75pts each-way Coneygree @16/1, 0.75pts each-way Missed Approach @22/1, 15:00 Newbury, Saturday
Formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, this race has parted ways with a long time affiliate and takes on a new identity as the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. The substance of the race remains unchanged, however, with the complex mixture of improving second season chasers taking on the higher-rated and…
1pt win Traffic Fluide @33/1, 15:00 Haydock, Saturday
Grade 1 action returns to Britain this Saturday as the opening top-level race of the season, the Betfair Chase, takes centre stage at Haydock. Three-time winner Cue Card would usually be favourite for this race but he’s pushing twelve years old and has fallen on two of his previous three…
0.75pts each-way Theinval @22/1, 14:25 Cheltenham, Saturday
The feature Betvictor Gold Cup on Cheltenham’s Saturday card looks really tricky with no obvious class horse and no horse with obvious claims to being well handicapped either. If there is a class horse it might be Kylemore Lough for new trainer Harry Fry who makes his reappearance and saddles…
1pt win Momella @9/2, 15:35 Cheltenham, Friday
The jumps season slips into top gear tomorrow as Cheltenham hosts the biggest meeting this side of Christmas, the three-day November meeting where many big names will be returning to the track. I think there’s a bet in the closing novices’ hurdle on Friday’s card as the second-favourite Calett Mad,…
1pt win Couer De Lion @11/1, 15:00 Wincanton, Saturday
With a profitable flat season over until the spring, we’re turning to Wincanton and specifically COEUR DE LION to get our jumps season of to a big start. Race fit after placing second in the Cesarewitch trial at Newmarket and putting in a good performance in third at York –…
1pt each-way Seventh Heaven @9/1, 23:37 Del Mar, Saturday
With the late withdrawal of Ulysses, suddenly the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf looks a lot weaker, but last year’s winner and current favourite Highland Reel is back for more after running a blinder on ground he’d have hated at Ascot on Champions Day. He has a great chance back…
0.75pts each-way Grand Jete @14/1, 0.5pts each-way War Flag @33/1, 21:00 Del Mar, Saturday
The 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf looks a cracker, with Europe holding a strong hand by sending over five Group One winners. The draw has been unkind to Rhododendron, Aidan O’Brien’s dual-Group One winner, as she’s parked out in stall 14 and has it all to do from…
0.75pts each-way Zelzal @12/1, 22:19 Del Mar, Saturday
Ribchester has the best form on paper going in to the Breeder’s Cup Turf Mile, with multiple Group 1 victories during what has been a fairly busy campaign. He is arguably, one of the best Richard Fahey has ever trained, and you can be sure he will run a highly…