Thursday, 25th January 2023
Friday delivers two decent betting heats – at Huntingdon and Doncaster. I’m targeting both races. My selections are further down the page….
Before that, I want to report that I recently finished work on my pre-Festival report. It’s called: Pinpoint ‘live’ contenders at the Cheltenham Festival 2023….
You’ve already seen some of the report material in this column over the last few weeks. But there’s plenty more that you haven’t seen yet…
I’ve spent the last couple of months scrutinising 20+ years of data extracted from races run at the Cheltenham Festival….
…. and I’ve written up my findings in an easy-to-read report….
…. that delivers instructive pointers, potent angles, unique stats, hard-won insight, and contrarian intelligence….
…. that will help you pinpoint ‘live’ contenders at value prices in all the Festival handicaps….
…. and in each of the five big ‘open’ championship races contested at the meeting….
…. the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase, the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Ryanair Chase, and the Gold Cup….
You can download your copy of my report right here. And – yes, of course – it’s totally FREE….
I hope you find the information useful….
I’ll move on to my selections for Friday’s races in a moment. First, something from my notebook….
Jamie Snowden’s having a good season – running at a 21% win strike rate since 1st October….
And he’s logged some good wins with the likes of Ga Law, Kiltealy Briggs and Hardy Du Seuil….
Up For Parol is a handicapper who can add another decent win to the yard’s order of merit in the weeks ahead….
He hadn’t been seen since April ahead of the Lanzarote at Kempton a fortnight back – but he ran an absolute cracker there to finish 3/22 beaten 3.75 lengths….
He was still right in the mix at the last obstacle but a 276-day lay-off finally told on him on the run-in – and he couldn’t find any extra….
No matter. He should strip fitter for that appearance and on a rating of 131 you’d think he can be placed to win by his trainer….
For a horse whose entire handicap hurdle career to date has been contested from marks ranging from 129 to 133 – he’s been quite highly tried….
His seven handicap appearances to date have seen him contest five open handicaps – against seasoned and high-quality opposition….
Connections clearly think something of him. Fair enough. He might be able to win a big pot – in time. In the meanwhile there’s absolutely nothing wrong with stepping into calmer waters to land a few quid. Just a thought….
He’s going on to my Handicappers in Focus list – so that we can follow his progress…
Note: only William Hill are up with prices right now – but I don’t expect too much deviation from the other firms. If we can get better prices later – all the better….
Pam Sly’s XCITATIONS is up 7lbs for his win at Sandown last time….
…. but he was cruising that day and won very comfortably….
…. and he might still have enough in hand to figure prominently in tomorrow’s Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase at Doncaster (3.15)….
Quite a few of the opposition are patently out of form….
…. whilst others turn up with questions to answer and things to prove….
If the 8yo reproduces the Sandown form then he’ll be in the mix. He’s 11/2 with William Hill – and that’s fair enough….
Over at Huntingdon in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series Qualifier (3.35)….
Dan Skelton’s mare GET A TONIC didn’t find for pressure at Kempton over Christmas and disappointed….
Prior to that she’d run a cracker at Haydock in the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle – where she was 2/13 beaten 2.25 lengths by Botox Has off 133….
I’m certain the 4lb rise she got for that showing had nothing to do with her under par performance at Kempton. I take the view that she had an off day….
The 4s isn’t a big price – and the favourite is a danger – but I think she’s better than most of these and if she can bounce back then she’ll go close….
The pick of the prices….To recap on my bets for tomorrow…. In the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase (3.15 @ Doncaster)….
e/w terms = Sky Bet & Unibet are 1/5 the first 4. It’s 1/5 the first 3 generally…. In the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) (3.35 @ Huntingdon)….
e/w terms = 1/5 the first 4 generally…. Advised prices are correct on publication – but prices are subject to fluctuation. Consult Oddschecker – you may find better quotes and terms than advised…. |
That’s all for today….
Back tomorrow morning….
Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Stay tuned.
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