Cheltenham here we come with four tips for the two big handicaps
Jumps season 2022-3: bets 4, 5, 6 & 7
I am going to Cheltenham’s November meeting with my racing pals and I hope to arrive at the track on Saturday week with some decent prices in the bag for the weekend’s two big handicaps.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 12 is always an intriguing race. Many trainers have aimed their improving chasers at it throughout the close season. GA LAW is my main fancy for the race, after his promising seasonal debut at Aintree just over a week ago.
Considering he had a season off due to a tendon injury, this was a highly encouraging return to the track when third behind Riders Onthe Storm. His jockey, Jonathan Burke, was not hard on the horse after he made a mistake five fences out, yet he ran on well from the last.
Ga Law’s trainer, Jamie Snowden, has his string in superb form and seven of his last 14 runners from the past 15 days have won. Back Ga Law at 10-1 each way with bet365, four places.
But I like another horse in the race at a bigger price and that is Ben Pauling’s SHAKEM UP’ARRY who has also had this race on his radar for several months. This eight-year-old gelding, who is owned by former England manager Harry Redknapp, is best fresh so I am not worried that this is his seasonal debut.
I would have concerns if the ground remained fast, as the horse is far better on “soft” or “heavy” ground. But there is plenty of rain forecast over the next two weeks. The step up to two and a half miles will definitely be in his favour too. Take the 20-1 each way with Paddy Power or Betfair fixed odds, again paying four places.
The Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle the next day (Sunday November 13) is just as competitive as the Paddy Power Gold Cup and in this race I again like a horse trained locally by Ben Pauling.
SEVERANCE ran some excellent races in defeat last season and showed that he is in good form this season too when third at Ffos Las earlier this month. The softer the better for him, but he can handle good ground if the rain fails to fall in the quantities forecast. Take the 20-1 each way, four places, offered by several bookmakers, including bet365, Unibet and BetVictor.
But my main fancy in this race is Harry Fry’s GIN COCO, who has been aimed at this race for several months. He ran a cracker at the Punchestown Festival in April to be second in a hugely competitive handicap.
This improving six-year-old gelding should relish the rough and tumble of this big-field handicap at Cheltenham. Fry has made things tricky by entering three horses in the race, but I would be confident that Gin Coco will be his main contender with his other two horses, Might I and Metier, likely to be running over trips further than two miles sooner rather than later. That said, if the ground came up really heavy, Metier would have a chance of winning the Greatwood.
Gin Coco, who had a nice prep race for the Greatwood when winning a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot earlier this month, can handle some cut in the ground but would not want it bottomless. Take the 16-1 each way, four places, with the likes of Sky Bet, Coral and Ladbrokes.
One for the horse tracker
Full Back ran a race full of promise for the season ahead when fourth to Our Power in the highly-competitive Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday, beaten under 15 lengths by the winner. This was his seasonal debut on ground plenty quick enough for him. If he is dropped a couple of pounds by the handicapper and has soft ground next time, he could return to winning ways. I liked the chances of Garry Moore’s seven-year-old gelding in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival in March but Full Back ran disappointingly. He is much better than he showed that day and, with stamina his forte, he could even turn into a contender for the Grand National at Aintree in April.
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Pending:
1 point each way Spiritofthegames at 25-1 for the Grand Sefton Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Ga Law at 10-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds 4 places.
1 point each way Shakem Up’Arry at 20-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds 4 places.
1 point each way Gin Coco at 16-1 for the Greatwood Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Severance at 20-1 for the Greatwood Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Annsam at 50-1 for the Coral Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Corach Rambler at 16-1 for the Coral Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
2022-3 jumps season: no settled bets as yet.
2022 Flat season running total: + 9.01 points
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 13 of the past 14 seasons. To a 1 point level stake over this period, I have made a profit of just over 469 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a "point" is your chosen regular stake).