William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over four of Saturday’s cards on an excellent day of Jumps racing action.
Sandown
HOT ROD LINCOLN is a rather tentative way into the TV punting day at Sandown on Saturday (1.10pm). Nonetheless, his price of 6/1 makes him appealing in a thin race for the track. He certainly achieved enough in his point and his first hurdle to think he’s pretty well treated for his opening shot at handicap company, and the tongue tie goes on after a tame check out last time. Expect a more prominent showing all round this time.
THE WIDDOW MAKER might spoil the Dolos party in the race named for the latter (1.45pm) at 17/2. The selection has been running respectably this season, but has been cut a fair bit of slack by the handicapper and is in a realistic race here. In addition, although he has jumped left occasionally this year, he has done all his winning right-handed and the sound surface will suit. He’s had a breathing operation which – even if it only ekes out a couple of pounds – might be enough to tip the balance.
THUNDER ROCK looks the answer to the Scilly Isles (2.20pm). In essence, there shouldn’t be three ahead of him in the betting on the balance of his form, so he represents good value at around 4/1. Never on an even keel, he still roared home at Cheltenham to finish only a head behind Monmiral. This track and better ground should enable him to at least reverse that form, while Gerri Colombe came here for soft ground (but won’t get it) and Balco Coastal remains a good prospect, but hasn’t achieved as much.
STELLAR MAGIC has possibilities at 9/1 in the Pertemps Qualifier (2.55pm). His rating probably puts him just on the cusp of getting into the final in a fair year, so he wants to be running well here to guarantee a run, and there was loads to like about his resurgent effort in the race at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Cheekpieces seem to have worked quite well, the yard is just finding a little bit of form, and I still can’t erase the memory of how promising he looked as a novice before injury intervened.
BROKEN HALO might be a bit of value at around the 11/1 mark in the Masters’ (3.30pm). His overall career is rather patchy but he can be readily excused his two runs last season, first when not really warming to the Aintree fences, then when doing a bit too much in bad ground at Chepstow. This track will suit his natural exuberance much better and he remains less exposed than most despite being dropped a fair bit in the weights for those two runs. He looks too big at double figure odds.
Musselburgh
BEAR GHYLLS can come out on top in a really warm looking TV opener at Musselburgh (1.28pm). His comeback in the Colin Parker was a very tough ask, but he looked the winner against very smart horses until the long layoff told. A classic ‘bounce’ contender when backing up quickly, he duly flopped, but he’s had a nice gap since then and is still young enough to confirm the immense promise he showed as a young horse off a very competitive mark. A price of around 6/1 looks fair too.
DOYEN BREED can strike in the Edinburgh National (2.03pm), and looks worth supporting at a current price of 15/2. He was a pretty good novice last year, hardy through the midwinter when often faced with demanding assignments in graded company. He limbered up for this with a spin over hurdles the other day, and is now ready for what he has surely wanted: a marathon trip.
GRIVETANA is worth another chance in a nice handicap hurdle (3.16pm). The run at Newbury in the autumn – splitting First Street and Teddy Blue – was a seriously good one (she was fancied that day) and she simply sank in the deteriorating conditions next time. Returned to good ground, with her claiming rider buoyed by recent success on the big stage, she can make an impact at 3/1 in the market.
Wetherby
O’TOOLE is surely the play at the prices (4/1) in the Towton at Wetherby (2.40pm). He was very slick against a good sized field at Newcastle, a run which only leaves him just shy of the required standard here. For good measure, the horse he trounced was traveling like a winner when falling late in a fair race back there this week. His rivals here are talented, but City Chief has looked far from convincing in tiny field races, while hot favourite Ballygrifincottage may find this an inadequate test of stamina.
Leopardstown
ANY SECOND NOW is worth a small bet at big odds of around 40/1 in the Irish Gold Cup lest any mishap should befall Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs (3.05pm). The selection is officially third best on ratings, yet the market doesn’t believe his Grand National effort is worthy of the same respect. Time has shown it absolutely is, and he showed his well-being in a hurdle race last time. Clearly a return to Aintree is the priority, but he can run a nice race here at least.
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