In-form trainer can land the big handicap hurdle at Sandown tomorrow
Jumps season 2021-2: “max bet” 53
The last major staying handicap chase of the season takes place at Sandown tomorrow: the bet365 Gold Cup.
I am happy enough with my two long-term each way ante post bets in the race – Hewick at 33-1 and Potterman at 14-1. Both are likely to go off at shorter prices.
The Christian Williams trained trio of Kitty’s Light, Win My Wings and Cap Du Nord are all big dangers, as is Dan Skelton’s Flegmatik and Paul Nicholls’ Enrilo. Musical Slave is the best handicapped horse on official figures after his last two winning runs, but he cannot be relied upon to run well again.
Both of my tips will love the drying ground at the Esher track and I see no need to have any more bets in the race.
Instead, I am going to put up just one tip in the last race on the card at Sandown tomorrow.
Chris Gordon has his string in top form with five winners from his last 15 runners over the past fortnight.
He has two runners in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (5.15pm) tomorrow but my preference is for PRESS YOUR LUCK, who looked an improving horse when decisively beating a 17-runner field at Kempton last month. That victory followed another win at Wincanton in February.
Press Your Luck races off a career-high rating of 138 tomorrow but he has a fine chance of completing his hat-trick with the track, distance and ground all likely to suit the seven-year-old gelding. Back him each way at 9-2, with Sky Bet paying five places.
This is a highly competitive race with both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson running two horses from their respective powerhouse stables.
Jeremy Scott’s Champagne Court and Charlie Longsdon’s Beyond the Clouds are interesting contenders too as they are reverting to hurdles after a spell of chasing. Champagne Court is rated the biggest danger to my selection, given the forecast favourite Fifty Ball would prefer softer ground.
Next week I will be concentrating on the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, which boasts a series of mouth-watering Grade 1 contests and some top handicaps. Those tips will wrap up the jumps’ season for this newsletter before moving on to the Flat in early May.
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One for the Horse Tracker
First Impression ran a huge race in the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. Desperately short of room after jumping the third last hurdle, he ran on strongly after the final flight and was gaining on the front two as he crossed the line in third. Trainer John Quinn’s gelding is still only five and can win sooner rather than later, either over hurdles or on the flat. He goes on all ground from “soft” to “good”, which augurs well for his future prospects under both codes.
Bets record for the 2021-2 jumps season
Pending:
1 point each way Hewick at 33-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Potterman at 14-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup, 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Press Your Luck at 9-2 in the Sandown 5.15pm tomorrow, 1/5 odds, 5 places.
Settled:
1 point each way Spyglass Hill at 20-1 for Grand Sefton Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unseated rider. – 2 points.
1 point each way Coole Cody at 20-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Manofthemountain at 20-1 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points
1 point each way Potterman at 16-1 for the Ladbrokes Trophy, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Silver Streak at 12-1 for the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Mac Tottie at 12-1 for the Becher Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Alnadam at 10-1 for the Racing Post Gold Cup, ¼ odds. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Silver Hallmark at 12-1 for the Racing Post Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR – 2 points.
1 point each way Lake View Lad at 12-1 for the Rowland Meyrick, ¼ odds, 4 places.4th+2 points.
1 point each way Highland Hunter at 14-1 for the Welsh Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. 2nd +2.5 points.
1 point each way Hold That Taught at 12-1 for the Welsh Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Galahad Quest at 9-1 in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Chase, ¼ odds,, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Notachance at 9-1 for the Classic Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. - 2 points.
1 point each way Quinta do Mar at 16-1 for the Lanzarote Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. Fell. – 2 points.
1 point each way Annsam at 16-1 for the Sky Bet Handicap Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR – 2 points.
1 point each way Green Book at 7-1 for the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 6 places. 1st 7-1. + 8.4 points
1 point each way I Like To Move It at 12-1 for the Betfair Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. 2nd + 2 points.
1 point each way Onemorefortheroad at 12-1 for the Betfair Hurdle, ¼ odds, 4 places. NR -= 2 points.
2 points win Annsam at 11-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Zanza at 20-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, 1/4 odds, 4 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
2 point each way Caribean Boy at 10-1 for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Cormier at 14-1 for the Morebattle Hurdle 1/4 odds, 4 places. 1st +17.5 points.
1 point each way Magic Daze at 16-1 NRNB or the Arkle Chase 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points
1 point each way Full Back at 20-1 NRNB for the Ultima Chase, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaed – 2 points
1 point each way Epatante at 10-1 NRNB for the Champion Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. 2nd + 1 point.
1 point each way Saint Segal at 12-1 NRNB for the Boodles Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Too Friendly at 16-1 NRNB for the Boodles Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 5 places. 5th + 2.2 points
1 pint each way Gowel Road a 16-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup, 1/5 odds, 5 places. – 2 points.
1 point each way Buzz at 20-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, 1/5 odds, 3 places. NR – 2 points
1 point each way Shady Operator at 14-1 for the Cross Country Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 20-1 NRNB or the Grand Annual, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points
2 points win Amarillo Sky at 10-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual. Unplaced. -2 points.
1 point each way Global Citizen at 50-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual Chase 1/5 odd, 5 places. 1st + 60 points.
1 point each way Fanion D’Estruval at 25-1 NRNB for the Ryanair Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way The Glancing Queen at 20-1 NRNB for the Paddy Power Plate 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Global Citizen at 40-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle 1/4 odd, 4 places. NR Stake returned.
1 point each way The Glancing Queen at 10-1 NRNB for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase, 1/5 odds, 3 places. NR. Stake returned.
1 point each way Royale Pagaille at 20-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup , 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Jersey Bean at 14-1 for the Midlands Grand National 1/4 odds, 4 places. NR. - 2 points.
1 point each way Kitty’s Light at 14-1 for the Scottish Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. 2nd + 2.5 points
1 point each way Innisfree Lad at 33-1 for the Scottish Grand National, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Hewick at 20-1 for the Scottish Grand National, 1/5 odds, 5 places. NR. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gaelik Coast at 16-1 for the Red Rum Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gaelik Coast at 20-1 for the Topham Chase ¼ odds, 4 places. NR. – 2 points.
1 point each way Senior Citizen at 11-1 in the Topham, 1/5 odds, 8 places. 8th + 1.2 points.
1 point each way Dans Le Vent at 14-1 in the Aintree 1.45pm race tomorrow, with bet365 1/5th odds, 5 places. Fell – 2 points.
1 point each way Party Business at 12-1 in the Aintree 1.45pm race tomorrow, with bet365, 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1st + 14.4 points.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 20-1 for the Grand National, with bet365, ¼ odds, 5 places. 2nd. + 4 points.
1 point each way Dingo Dollar at 50-1 for the Grand National, ¼ odds, 4 places. UR. - 2 points.
1 point each way Good Boy Bobby at 40-1 for the Grand National, with William Hill, ¼ odds, 4 places. PU - 2 points.
1 point each way Mighty Thunder at 50-1 for the Grand National, with William Hill, ¼ odds, 4 places. PU. – 2 points.
1 point each way Discorama at 33-1 for the Grand National, 1/5 odds, 5 places. PU. - 2 points.
2021-22 jumps season running total + 44.7 points.