Dark horses for Ascot & Haydock on Saturday....

Friday, 18th November 2022

Dark horses for Ascot & Haydock on Saturday….

When Edwardstone won the Arkle at Cheltenham in March….

…. I don’t suppose many punters had tomorrow’s Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3-15) at Ascot in mind as his opening assignment of the 22/23 jumps season….

But once the ground had gone against him at Cheltenham last week – forcing Alan King to pull him out of the G2 Shloer Chase – I guess it was a case of needs must….

On a rating of 161 he’ll carry 12 stone and attempt to concede between 10 and 26 pounds to his 8 opponents….

Punters taking the 11/4 about him this morning would likely argue that – as a class horse with genuine G1 aspirations going forward – he should be able to get the job done….

And perhaps he should. But I wouldn’t be going overboard about the quality of last season’s 2m novices….

…. and plenty of the horses Edwardstone was beating last term (and the one he got beaten by at Aintree) haven’t done that much to frank the form….

He probably was the best of the bunch. But what did that bunch amount to? We can’t be certain at this point – but I won’t be with Alan King’s horse tomorrow. I’m taking him on….

• 7lb better off at the weights….

The one for me is FRERO BANBOU at the general 8s….

I was expecting him to be stepped up to intermediate trips this term but it hasn’t happened – at least not yet….

Last season Frero Banbou was often adrift in the early to mid-stages of his races at 2m – and had too much to do late on….

But it wasn’t the same-old-same-old on seasonal debut in the Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot last month. He travelled better for Charlie Deutsch – and looked much more within his comfort zone….

He found Thyme Whyte too good and got beaten 4.75 lengths – but there was sufficient encouragement to keep him at this trip for the time being and to come back to Ascot for another shy at the coconut….

Thyme Whyte reopposes tomorrow – but Frero Banbou is 7lbs better off at the weights and they meet on softer ground that will serve to blunt Thyme Whyte’s natural speed and play more into Frero Banbou’s stamina reserves….

Nobody could argue that the Williams yard is peaking right now. But the horses have been running better than no winners from 25 runners over the last 30-days would suggest….

e/w terms = Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 4. It’s 1/5 the first 3 generally….

• He’ll love the ground at Haydock….

The feature handicap of the day at Haydock is the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2.25)….

Good Risk At All has plenty going for him. But – at the prices – I prefer COMPLETE UNKNOWN at the general 17/2 & 8s….

The plan for him is to go novice chasing but trainer Paul Nicholls isn’t one to waste a competitive handicap mark and off just 135 tomorrow the 6yo could be a dangerous proposition….

He improved heartily to win the EBF Final at Sandown in March before getting beaten at Perth on his first go at the 3m trip – by which time he’d probably had enough for the season – and he can resume in that progressive vein tomorrow….

He’ll absolutely love the ground at Haydock. His yard is in the cracking form right now. He’s got the yard number one Harry Cobden in the plate. And he’s very much at the right end of the handicap….

He hasn’t had a prep run. But I’m not too worried about that. He’s produced competitive performances off a long break before. And whilst this race is deeper than those races, I think Nicholls knows how to get him ready to produce at the first time of asking….

e/w terms = William Hill & Betway are 1/5 the first 5. It’s 1/5 the first 4 generally….

• The last word….

That’s all for today. I’ll be back next week….

Meantime: if you have information, opinion, comment, questions, or requests then contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk   

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd