The pick of the Saturday prices....

Friday, 25th October 2024

The pick of the Saturday prices….

It’s never easy at the start of a new season….

…. with no form in the book….

…. and race-readiness mostly a matter of speculation….

But every challenge contains within it an opportunity….

…. and races like tomorrow’s William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2.20)….

…. offer an opportunity to back unexposed horses – with strong claims on improving this term – at decent prices….

The one I like is Olly Murphy’s CHASING FIRE at the general 12s….

…. a big improver last time at Perth in April – stepped up to the 3m trip for the first time….

I’m not sure he beat much that day but his jumping was more accurate than it had been over shorter trips….

…. and on a mark of 140 there’s scope for more improvement yet at tomorrow’s trip….

Earlier this week – in a stable tour – Olly Murphy talked about starting the 7yo in the Old Roan at Aintree, the Sodexo at Ascot, or the Badger at Wincanton….

…. but he turns out here instead – perhaps on account of being guaranteed decent ground or perhaps because his trainer feels this might be the easier assignment….

Whatever – I don’t think he’s prepping because he goes so well fresh – producing wins off breaks of 100+ days last season and the season before….

Not all tomorrow’s opponents will be on their A-game and first-time-up might just be the right to time to catch this one….

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In the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2.55) I’m backing SUPREME GIFT at the 10s….

Henry Daly’s 7yo was revitalised at the end of last term – for a return to hurdles, a step-up in trip, and the application of a visor….

…. culminating in a career-best performance at Cheltenham’s April meeting – where he was beaten 3-lengths by Zain Nights….

That one reopposes tomorrow – 2lb worse off and at half the price Supreme Gift can be backed at….

Both horses have scope to improve over timber….

…. but Zain Nights has needed his first outing in each of his campaigns to date whilst Supreme Gift has shown a greater capacity to go well fresh….

I like the booking of Harry Cobden – he and Daly are 6/23 in tandem with another 7 finishing second or third (a T3 strike-rate of 56.5%)….

They usually get competitive when they get together and I think there’s more to come from this selections over hurdles at the 3m trip on decent ground….

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VINTAGE CLARETS has gone back up the weights thanks to two back-end wins at Chester and Catterick….

He’s never done much off a mark of 97 before….

…. but having said that he’d never won off a mark as high as 94 ahead of last weekend at Catterick….

Conditions are the key issue for him….

…. and he gets what he likes tomorrow at Doncaster in the Join Century Racing Club Today Handicap (2.05)….

…. a soft-ground big-field 5f….

…. and – truth-be-told – he hasn’t had too many previous opportunities in those conditions when rated as high as he is now….

Plenty of tomorrow’s opposition won’t appreciate conditions as much as he will….

…. and plenty more are coming out of yards that might just be running out of gas at this late stage of the season….

Vintage Clarets is firing on all cylinders and he has a track-record of backing up good performances….

All things considered he’s a fair bet at the general 17/2….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back 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