The pick of the prices in the Betfair Hurdle....

Friday, 9th February 2024

The pick of the prices in the Betfair Hurdle….

It’s going to be testing ground at Newbury tomorrow for the Betfair Hurdle (3.15)….

…. and that’s going to suit Gary Moore’s SPIRIT D’AUNOU – who is a nice price this morning at 14s….

He probably needed his first run of the season at Cheltenham….

…. before winning a valuable handicap at Sandown in good style next time out on heavy ground….

The evidence suggests that the 5yo is a candidate to get further – probably sooner rather than later….

…. but the ground has certainly come right for him tomorrow over the minimum trip….

…. and – despite the fact he’s up 10lb to 139 for the Sandown victory….

…. there’s no way they’ve got to the bottom of him yet….

I expect a big run tomorrow from a horse representing a yard with a really good record in this race….

I remarked earlier in the week just what a strong record Dan Skelton has in valuable handicap hurdle races….

…. not always with fancied types….

…. and I can’t resist having a few quid on KNICKERBOCKERGLORY at the 33s….

He’s very much at his best on a testing surface….

…. as he showed when beating Altobelli 4-lengths at Ascot in December….

That one reopposes on 6lb better terms tomorrow and is more than 4-times shorter in the betting….

Fair enough….

…. but I reckon there’s more to come from the Skelton horse and at the big price he represents value on this type of surface….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be next week….

Meantime – Contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd