Saturday was another hugely successful day for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, winning both of Sandown‘s G1 2m chases and completing an across-the-card treble with Sam Winner winning Aintree’s 3m Listed Chase under Nick Schofield. Dodging Bullets won the afternoon’s feature Tingle Creek Chase under stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies and was cut to 14/1 (from 33s) with BetVictor for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, whilst stable-mate Vibrato Valtat was trimmed to 16/1 (from 25s) to similarly taste Cheltenham Festival success in the Arkle.
Sam Winner remains the hoses with the most options, a staying chaser with stamina in abundance, and could next head to either the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown of the Welsh National at Chepstow and 10/1 for both respective engagements with BetVictor. The 7-y-o earned a quote of 33/1 (first show) for the Cheltenham Gold Cup however was cut to 25/1 (from 33s) to return to the track and taste success in the Crabbies Grand National in April.
National Hunt racing is thin on the ground this afternoon however there’s an excellent BetVictor sponsored card at Kempton with Inexes (2.10) taken to extend the fine form of the John Gosden stable in the opener. The selection was second on his racecourse debut when collared late at on Wolverhampton and steps back to a mile after failing to see out nine furlongs last time out. Rab Havlin keeps the ride on the son of Exceed and Excel, who is entitled to progress from that initial run, as most of the trainer’s generally do.
World Record (2.40) has just his third start under new trainer Mick Quinn in the 25 Free at BetVictor.com Handicap and could out-run his likely double-figure price under Martin Dwyer. The 4-y-o heads the weights for the mile trip and despite losing his way for John Quinn this summer, boasts some excellent all-weather form having won at Lingfield from a 10lb higher mark last March. The selection failed to handle the track at Southwell lto but ran well when running from out of the handicap in his first start for the yard at Newmarket to suggest there’s something to work with.
Trainer Tony Carroll has orchestrated many a punt in his time and his Shalambar (3.40) could be the matter of another plunge in the Download the BetVictor Instabet Handicap over the marathon trip. Jim Crowley takes the ride, as he did when the trainer’s Time Square landed a gamble at the track last week, and the 8-y-o looks well handicapped to run well. Crowley guided the former C&D winner to success at the track six weeks ago and despite a 5lb higher mark, thrives on the surface and should give another strong account.
The BetVictor.com Handicap over 1m 3f looks a fascinating renewal with the in-form trio of Mubtadi, Hedge End and Past Forgetting all respected however a chance taken on Ed Walker’s Willie Wag Tail (5.10) and soon-to-be retired jockey Jamie Spencer doing the steering. The 5-y-o has struggled with injuries however remains with Qatar Racing so presumably must be giving off the right sort of vibes at home. He was well-supported in the market when returning to the track last month after an absence of 18months, running well before tiring in the closing stages and from a career-low mark of 80, can return to winning ways for the in-form Walker yard.
Another horse on the comeback trail is Top Offer (4.40) with the former Roger Charlton trained inmate fancied to land the spoils in the second division of the Download the BetVictor App Now Handicap. Shane Kelly gets on well with the 5-y-o, who bounce backed to form when switched to the all-weather, finishing first and second in a brace of Lingfield handicaps. He remains unexposed and is clearly going the right way, taken to defy a 5lb higher mark and claim a fourth career success.
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