Swinging the bat....

Friday, 29th November 2024

Swinging the bat….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the big weekend handicaps….

The Coral Gold Cup is the feature at Newbury tomorrow….

…. the off time is 3.00….

…. and my pick of the prices is HENRY’S FRIEND at 12s….

I’m also on ANYHARMINASKING in the 1.54 at Newbury – he’s up at 8s….

…. I’m on JET PLANE at 10s in the 3.20 at Newcastle….

…. and I’m on GENERAL MEDRANO at 11s in the 3.35 at Newbury….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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In the 3.00 at Newbury….

HENRY’S FRIEND was progressive as a novice last year….

…. winning the Reynoldstown at Ascot – and looking like he needed every yard of that 3m trip in the process….

…. and he could be well-handicapped at the bottom end of the weights – stepping up in trip….

He’s had a prep run at Newbury over hurdles – bare form I’m not reading too much into….

The ground was quick enough for him that day…. they weren’t hard on him…. and I look on it as a run that will have brought him on….

He’s reported to have bounced out of that assignment…. he’s had a racecourse gallop…. and his coat is said to be ‘gleaming’….

He ticks some of the right boxes – How Coral Gold Cups get won….

…. he’s jumped around Newbury before….

…. he’s getting weight off almost everything….

…. and – for my money – he’s a fair bet at the 12s….

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In the 1.54 at Newbury….

ANYHARMINASKING has produced some nice performances….

…. like when second to Nemean Lion in the 2023 renewal of the Welsh Champion Hurdle – the winner is currently rated 150….

…. and when chasing Get A Tonic home at Newbury in December – coming from the rear in a race dominated by a winner who made all….

At other times he has been found lacking….

But there was plenty to like about his fighting spirit at Cheltenham on seasonal return – when he was 3/13 in a C3….

He was in cheekpieces for the first time and produced a level of form – first-time-up – that compares favourably with his best efforts last term….

He didn’t quite kick on last year – but this horse does promise to be better than his current mark of 135….

…. he’s entitled to be all the sharper for the Cheltenham run….

…. and I think he’s a nice price at the 8s….

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In the 3.20 at Newcastle….

JET PLANE returns to 3m for the first time in a while – after a spell campaigning at shorter trips….

I was taken by his effort on return at Wetherby last month over just short of 2m4f – which would be sharp enough….

It was a career-best on the RPR scale….

…. but I think he’s a cert to improve again for further….

I like the step up in trip….

…. he’ll be fitter for that first outing….

…. and I like this horse at the 10s….

This week’s gun-to-head angle….

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In the 3.35 at Newbury….

A wind operation might have done the trick for GENERAL MEDRANO….

…. who returned to action with a nice performance in a C3 at Haydock – pulling clear of the field with a winner he was conceding 17lbs to….

It was the first time the 7yo had raced at 2m for a little while….

…. and I’m encouraged that they’re sticking with it on a quick turnaround tomorrow….

I just think he came good at Haydock last week….

…. and while he’s up 2lb to 131 as a consequence….

…. that wind-op and the decision to target the speedier races might well enable him to rank higher….

At any rate – he rates a fair bet at the 11s tomorrow….

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Now, just to recap….

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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