Friday
I really like the claims of CHANCEUX today at Chepstow and although he is a very short price I think he is a solid first leg in an audacious Friday double that I’m looking to land. Alastair Ralph’s horse was given a great ride at Hereford last time where he would have learned plenty and that first run of the season should have put him spot on for this. The drop in trip shouldn’t pose a problem as he showed plenty of pace the last day and the long straight will allow Nick Scholfield to deliver him when he feels necessary as he will stay further.
Leg 2 of the Friday double is GETAROUND for the Skelton yard. Getaround is a new horse to Dan Skelton and after a decent novice hurdle campaign last year he was fancied to kick off his chase career in good fashion on stable debut last time out. Despite jumping beautifully throughout, he clearly needed the run as he blew up late on which allowed Eva’s Oskar who opposes today to take victory.I hope that would have put him spot on for today as I can see him putting in a dominant display of jumping.
Chepstow 1.45 – Chanceux
Ascot 3.15 – Getaround
Saturday
RAPPER made me look quite silly two weeks ago as I put him up a strong each way fancy only for him to hasten a retreat through the field on the home turn, clearly in desperate need for a run. I hope that would have blown away the cobwebs as Henry Daly now sends him back over a fence in a small but select field. His chase debut at Aintree last season was full of promise but he was kept off the track after that and connections haven’t been able to have a clear run with him. I’d suggest he is in a much better place now and this strong staying type should be going close despite carrying top weight.
I was ultra impressed with GUARD YOUR DREAMS last time out at Cheltenham as he took a competitive handicap with a little bit up his sleeve. The form has been franked since and although I’d expect plenty of improvement when he eventually steps up in trip I do think he is going into the Coral Hurdle as a bit of an unknown. His more fancied rivals all have chinks in their armour so at 8/1 in a 5 runner race I think he is good value. If he can keep tags on them turning for home I don’t think many will come home faster than him.
Up at Haydock, I’ve avoided putting one up in the ultra competitive Stayers Handicap Hurdle and I could literally back half of the field. Earlier on in the day though the 2m 2f handicap hurdle looks an exploitable race and TOMMY’S OSCAR is jumping off the page at me. A rapidly progressive hurdler last season he reappeared at Wetherby this time around with a close second which led to connections stepping him up in trip at Carlisle last time out. That didn’t work out and there were valid excuses including the ground for a below par effort. Back on good ground tomorrow over 2m 2f at a pacey track like Haydock should bring out the best in him and I don’t think you will lose much money backing him each way at 11/2.
Ascot 12.55 – Rapper
Ascot 2.40 – Guard Your Dreams
Haydock 1.15 – Tommy’s Oscar
