Targeting handicaps at Fairyhouse & Ffos Las....

Friday, 10th January 2025

Targeting handicaps at Fairyhouse & Ffos Las….

In ATC today….

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

I’m on LETS GO CHAMP in the 1.45 at Fairyhouse – he’s up at 10s & 9s ….

…. I’m on MADAKET at 11s in the 2.25 at Ffos Las….

…. and I’m on KEEP RUNNING at 7s in the 3.31 at Ffos Las ….

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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We lost the Classic Chase and the rest of the Warwick card yesterday….

…. Wetherby had already succumbed to the weather earlier in the week….

…. and this morning the track at Kempton failed its inspection – meaning we’ve lost the Lanzarote and the supporting handicaps on that card….

It’s disappointing – especially as this is the second weekend in succession when the British racing has been decimated….

…. but that’s the British weather for you….

All we can do is focus on what is available to us – those fixtures that haven’t been taken from us by the cold snap….

…. at least not yet….

In the first instance that means Fairyhouse and the SBK Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (1.45)….

…. in which I really like Henry De Bromhead’s LETS GO CHAMP at the general 10s and 9s….

He went really well for a long way from the front end of proceedings in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November….

…. before running out of gas quite quickly from the take-off side of the second last fence….

Tomorrow will be the first time he’s run over the minimum trip since he won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown back in 2023….

It’s not like he doesn’t stay intermediate trips – and he has gone 3m in the past….

…. but it could be that a true test at the lesser trip sees him to better effect….

…. and I expect Rachael Blackmore – back in the plate tomorrow – to ride him pretty aggressively and put it up to the rest of them….

It’s an interesting move, it’s well worth a go given how things panned out at Cheltenham – and I like the price….

MADAKET stopped quickly last time at Chepstow….

…. but he’s back out in tomorrow’s DragonBet The Independent Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las (2.25)….

…. and is worth giving the benefit of the doubt to at the general 11s….

That Chepstow contest was won by Woodie Flash off 129 – and he’s now up to 133….

The time before he’d been rated 124 – and was reasonably well-treated with the benefit of hindsight – with Madaket just a length in arrears….

A mark of 120 looks like a reasonable perch in what might well be a lesser contest….

…. and the price – if he’s back on-song – is fair enough….

KEEP RUNNING is up at 7s with William Hill in the Download The DragonBet App Handicap Chase at the Welsh track (3.31)….

I suspect he’s going to be generally shorter. Sky Bet have just gone up at 9/2….

…. but I’d be backing him anyway – because I think he’s got a great chance….

He had a wind-op in April and looked like different gravy at Ludlow last time – winning going away and producing a career best….

It’s debateable what he beat that day – probably not much….

…. but there’s more to come and he’s surely good value – at the price – for a 7lb rise up the rankings to tomorrow’s mark of 123….

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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