Saturday, 13th November 2021
Nicky Henderson’s No Ordinary Joe will need to live up to his name if he’s to come out on top in tomorrow’s Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2.55)….
I’m not saying he can’t win tomorrow – you can never say that with total certainty about any horse in a handicap – just that he’s lacking in experience for a race of this nature with just 3 hurdle runs to date under his belt….
And that being the case the general 11/2 about him this morning is plenty short enough for my tastes….
The 4 and 5-year-old horses are where it’s been at for this contest in recent times – winning 13 of the last 17 renewals and that’s where I want to be tomorrow….
Alan King’s hit a bit of form in recent times with his 34 runners over the last fortnight producing 8 winners. What Philip Hobbs and David Pipe might give at the moment to be in his shoes….
And King has impressive form in this race. He’s won it twice in the last 4 years with Elgin & Harambe. Four of his other 17 runners placed – with 4 more finishing 5th and another finishing 6th of 19….
In other words, King is in the habit of finding a good one for this – and preparing it to run a big race on the day. He’s got another good chance tomorrow with TRITONIC and – all things taken together – the general 12s is fair enough about that one….
He was plenty fancied for the Triumph Hurdle at last season’s Festival after winning the Adonis at Kempton the month before – but it didn’t happen on the day. He was found to be unwell after the race, scoped badly and took a little time to recover….
He disappointed a little on the face of it on his return at Cheltenham last month. But he did run up to his career-best RPR and Alan King reports that he’d left plenty to work on. He should be a better and sharper horse tomorrow for the run….
Another yard in form is Gary Moore’s and I can’t resist going two-against-the-field and having a few quid on his BOTOX HAS too….
Sent over fences at Plumpton last month he lacked fluency and crashed out. Reverting back to hurdles tomorrow at a track where he’s won twice previously – in a race his trainer has produced competitive runners in previously – he makes appeal at 18s & 16s this morning….
He’s back down to a mark of 140 with a claimer booked for the first time (Niall Houlihan claims 5lbs) and looks like his in-form trainer is giving him every chance….
I’ll be backing both horses win only – but….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are paying out 1/5 on the first 7. William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfred & Betfair Sportsbook are 1/5 the first 6. You can get 1/5 the first 5 and 1/4 the first 4 generally….
Nick’s contrarian picks….To recap on where my idea of the value lies tomorrow afternoon…. In the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.55 @ Cheltenham).
That is my take on where the value lies – but you will no doubt have your own ideas and that’s exactly as it should be. |
That’s all for today. Back next week. Meanwhile….
Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Stay tuned.
Nick Pullen
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