Saturday Racing

I hope some of you managed to get some of the 4/1 about Our Father today. This is a horse going places and he is well worth following, providing the handicapper is not excessively harsh. Today was ideal because he didn't win by far, but it showed just how good he could be because he was the only one to get anywhere near Shoreacres who was a clear second having slipped the field. I wouldn't be surprised to see him reappear under a penalty, and if he doesn't then that might be even more of a hint that the Pipe team still think there is another big race in him of his revised mark. He is well worth following for the time being. In the two novice races, Zaynar was an impressive winner of the chase. He jumped well and had the rest at it from a long way out. This was a big form boost for Walk On and Grands Crus who have both firmly put him in his place at Exeter and Cheltenham respectively. No doubt he showed improved form here but those two were far superior to him and I find it hard to imagine the form being turned around. In the hurdle Molotof was the winner but had to fight hard to beat Peckhamecho. Hazy Tom was slightly disappointing back in 3rd but the ground went against him and he will be seen to better effect on a sounder surface. My immediate impression was that there were no Cheltenham Festival winners in the race. The likes of Fingal Bay and Simonsig look some way clear of these.

Now on to Saturday's racing. Big Buck's is the obvious highlight as the finest staying hurdler of this, or any other generation, goes for win number 14. He has looked imperious for quite a while now and it is very hard to see his colours being lowered on Saturday. Dynaste is the fly in the ointment but, whilst his Haydock handicap rout was most taking, this is whole different game altogether. The same stable took on Big Buck's twice last year with Grands Crus but were dismissed with the usual contempt. Dynaste looks exciting but I see no reason why he will not be treated in the same manner. One small concern is that this will be Big Buck's first attempt right handed since arriving on these shores. That is no great worry though and it would be astounding if it brought about his downfall. He could absolutely despise it and still run out a comfortable winner such is his superiority. At the current 3/10 he looks a value bet, despite the prohibitive price.

In the Silver Cup the two I like are The Minack and Reve De Sivola. The first named has looked a progressive horse and a mark of 150 looks within his compass. He won the Badger Ales in good style last time and I think the course and ground will suit. Reve De Sivola has always promised to win a nice handicap and a mark of 139 looks lenient considering he was a Grade 1 winning hurdler. He is another who appreciates a bit of cut and with a clean round of jumping, and the cheekpieces back on, can go close. At 6/1 he is worth an EW bet.

The Ladbroke, Europe's most valuable handicap hurdle, is a more competitive affair. It is another Nicholls inmate that heads the market in the shape of exciting novice Prospect Wells at 4/1. He has looked good on three occasions this season already and it would be a disappointment of he were not better than a mark of 142 in time. His chance is obvious, especially with stablemate Brampour at the head of affairs to keep the weights down. It is not hard to see him winning, and it would be nice if he did win well. Brampour is entitled to run another big race but he has been busy this season and both the handicapper and his punishing schedule might be starting to catch up with him. Nicky Henderson, 3 times a winner of this race in recent times, seems to have Gibb River as his main hope. He was a close 3rd at Sandown a couple of weeks back and should come on for that which would put him in the mix. Sailors Warn also found Steps To Freedom too good back in October but he was giving 8lbs leaving him better off at the weights compared to Prospect Wells. He also has form on soft ground and should go well, especially as he showed his ability to handle a big and competitive field with a good effort in the Triumph. 4yos don't have the best record in this race but last year's crop have looked a cut above average. The Ellison pair of Marsh Warbler and Abergavenny could both go well. Raya Star will be popular after finishing 3rd behind the Nicholls pair of Rock On Ruby and Empire Levant in the Gerry Fielden 3 weeks ago. Another from that race is Alarazi who was back in 5th after running no sort of race at all but is reported to have come on for the run. He needs to return to form but he was an impressive winner of the Imperial Cup and might still be capable of better. Ciceron has won off a higher mark than this and could surprise a few at a big price. It looks as tough as you might expect, but Prospect Wells, who connections clearly think is well handicapped, could be a cut above them. The 4/1 looks reasonable but I'm uncertain that the testing conditions will be in his favour. Therefore, I think it is worth taking a bit of the 10/1 about Sailors Warn EW. I will also be having a small EW bet on Alarazi because I would be livid if he won and I hadn't backed him, and I keep coming back to Ciceron too who has shown his best form right handed and has won from a 3lb higher mark. The horse and the stable have been out of form but at 50/1 the price more than compensates for those doubts and he is worth a small EW play. There are any number with chances and you could pick out 6 and still not have the winner. 


Over at Haydock I can't let Wymott go unbacked in the Tommy Whittle. I'm sure that he is on a fair mark and whilst he would appreciate a bit of cut, I'm not sure the heavy ground is ideal. He is a thorough stayer and after a promising run in the Hennessy this looks an ideal place to get back to winning ways. 


Earlier on the card Reindeer Dippin should be backed EW at 9/1. He has won 5 times under rules, 3 times on heavy ground and once on soft. When the mud is flying he is one to have onside. The ground at Haydock should be right up his street and he will still be going when many have cried enough. He was a fair second at Aintree last time, and not disgraced behind Dynaste the time before that and rates a confident selection. 


If I get a chance I will try and have a look at some of the other races and see if anything jumps out. Best of luck to all who play.