Best Of Bets

Author: Ashley Symonds

  • Free Kelso & Newbury Weekend Tips | Rocking into Newbury

    Free Kelso & Newbury Weekend Tips | Rocking into Newbury

    With the Cheltenham Festival over, eyes turn to the action on Saturday with my free Kelso & Newbury weekend tips.

    But first, a quick word to Cheltenham. It was fairly brutal for the selections, but at least I’m not the only one.

    Well, we started well! Jango Baie winning, Liam Swagger placing, and The New Lion winning had the column up by 6.65pts after eight races, but it all went wrong from there.

    A few placed efforts from the ante-post bets – Heart Wood and The Big Westerner – were fine, but we finished the weak down by 16.35pts. Ouch.

    It’s one of them. Cheltenham was hard, I made my judgements, put money on them, and lost. We move.

    Let’s roll onto this week.

    Free Kelso & Newbury Weekend Tips

    2:05 Newbury – Beau Quali @ 9/1 with Betfred (4 places) – 1pt EW

    I’m unsure why Beau Quali is drifting in the market as he looks to have a strong chance on his handicap debut.

    On debut over hurdles, he finished second to Ben Solo and ahead of Peso, a subsequent Newbury winner. He shaped nicely that day when he potentially needed the outing, and he made a small mistake at the last.

    After that, he went to Stratford over two miles and finished fourth. The winner, Mythical Moon, ran well behind Meetmebythesea at Doncaster in January before finishing a decent fourth off 120 at Newbury today.

    The second, Sixmilebridge, won a Grade 2 on Trials Day and the third, Nowmelad, bolted up at Hereford on his next start.

    His good form doesn’t stop there as on his next start, he ran behind Kietzheim at Kempton in a two-mile maiden hurdle. The fourth, Jack Hyde, has won twice since to frank the form.

    This weekend is his handicap debut and his official rating of 118 could have him well-handicapped based on his form. The drift in the market is a worry, but that just makes him a better each-way bet.

    2:25 Kelso – Singapore Trip @ 12/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    Singapore Trip finished third in this race last year off 109, and he returns to Kelso off the same handicap mark at a big price.

    He ran a fine race at the track 12 months ago before winning a handicap at Perth on his next start off 110. He beat What A Johnny that day who has placed in two Class 2 handicaps subsequently.

    The pair pulled well clear that day and Singapore Trip made a mistake at the last which allowed What A Johnny to close at the line.

    As for his other bits of form, he finished third to Santos Blue at Wetherby before he improved 14lbs, and the fourth that day, Milldam, has improved 12lbs since.

    Back to a course and distance that he has run well over before can bring him back to his best, and he’s a nice each-way price to find out.

    3.15 Newbury – Rockstown Girl @ 12/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    Siog Geal is a worthy favourite, but she’s 3/1 and I’ll let her win at that price if that’s the case. She’s a nice horse, but the price has been missed.

    Furthermore, Rockstown Girl is a worthy substitute at a bigger price based on her form this season.

    When she came over to Chepstow in October, she beat Dameofthecotswolds by over two lengths. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ mare is rated 125 now having won two races readily, and she’s also run two fine races at Windsor behind Derryhassen Paddy and at Warwick behind Royale Margaux.

    After that, Anthony McCann’s seven-year-old ran behind Potters Charm and Valgrand in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham.

    She came down at the third-last that day, but she was travelling nicely. Who knows how well she would have gone that day?

    After a pretty busy year, connections gave her a break after her Punchestown run in December, and she is a horse who goes well fresh as her Chepstow win came off a 64-day break. She also won her maiden hurdle at Tipperary after a 167-day break.

    With Oakley Brown in the saddle to claim 5lbs, she can win off an official rating of 121 in what is a competitive contest.

  • Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 4 Tips | The last Docking

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 4 Tips | The last Docking

    At the time of writing, we are at the halfway stage of the week, so it seems like a good time to put up my Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 4 Tips.

    The New Lion delivering in the Turners was nice as he was one of my stronger bets of the week, but it all went a bit downhill from there. Anticlimactic!

    Hopefully, we can continue to stay ahead in the final two days.

    Let’s roll onto my Gold Cup Day selections.

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 4 Tips

    JCB Triumph Hurdle (1:20, Friday) – East India Dock @ 2/1 with Betfred – 2pt Win

    East India Dock or Lulamba. Messi or Ronaldo. Federer or Nadal.

    Three big sporting duels ranked in order of importance, and in this year’s Triumph Hurdle, East India Dock gets my strong vote.

    There is an argument to suggest Hello Neighbour, Lady Vega Allen, and Gibbs Island are slightly underappreciated in the Triumph, but that’s because the front two in the market look like really nice unexposed horses.

    Alas, James Owen’s four-year-old is my pick having shown so much ability over hurdles this season. He looks to have the ability of his talented older brother Burdett Road, though he doesn’t have his hyperactive tendencies.

    He’s proven he has speed by winning on the Old course, he’s proven himself to stay the course and distance stamina test of the New course, and drying ground will suit his Flat breeding.

    Furthermore, although Lulamba clearly looks smart, my feeling is that Henderson has been slightly windy about him all season.

    He has ability, of course, but the boss of Seven Barrows isn’t waxing lyrical about him.

    I think East India Dock is definitely the horse to beat in the Triumph, and any price north of 2/1 is very fair.

    William Hill County Hurdle (2:00, Friday) – Valgrand @ 15/2 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    The lack of Kopeck De Mee boosts the chances of a few in the County Hurdle, and one of them is Valgrand.

    Having not really fancied him in the lead-up to the Festival, I’ve come around to the idea that he is a well-handicapped horse off 134 considering he got himself all the way up to a rating of 140 in November.

    As Dan Skelton does, he’s worked his magic to get him down 6lbs in three runs, starting with a fine effort behind Potters Charm in November.

    He jumped very well that day, better than Potters Charm, but he didn’t stay the trip. Fine.

    He was then buried at the December meeting when beaten by Mirabad and the same occurred at Kempton at Christmas.

    Skelton seems confident that he is coming back to himself, and his bumper form alongside Tripoli Flyer, Good And Clever, and No Questions Asked is working out well.

    He gets the vote.

    William Hill County Hurdle (2:00, Friday) – Hansard @ 18/1 with Betfred (5 places) – 1pt EW

    However, I want to cover Hansard in the County Hurdle because he is very interesting.

    He got 2lbs for finishing third in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month, but amazingly, the race has produced the 1-2 in the Champion Hurdle with Golden Ace and Burdett Road.

    I’m not using that form literally, but his performance suggested that he is slowly getting back to his best, and his best is very good.

    He won the Gerry Feilden in 2023 off 138 when beating Brentford Hope (who improved 15lbs subsequently) and Our Champ (who has improved 7lbs since).

    He then ran a big race behind Luccia, 3rd in the Champion Hurdle since, Impose Toi, a subsequent Newbury winner, and Altobelli, a horse who’s improved 15lbs since, in the 2023 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot.

    He should appreciate this sounder surface, and his form looks rock solid. This has been the plan, so I’ll back him.

    Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (2:40, Friday) – Brides Hill @ 6/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    I’m concerned that Brides Hill is as short as 5/1 in places for the Mares’ Chase as I considered her as an ‘under the radar’ contender a few days ago.

    Considering she was 20/1 at the end of February, she has certainly come in by a few points over the last few weeks, but she is still my fancy for the race.

    It’s no secret how much I like this mare; she was one of my biggest ante-post positions for last year’s race.

    She didn’t run because of the ground, but she should get her conditions this year, or at least good to soft ground.

    She’s been beaten on her two starts this season, but she started the season late and I imagine both races were to get her spot on for this.

    Hopefully, that is the case, because if the same Brides Hill that bolted up at the Punchestown Festival last season turns up, this will be no contest.

    She made that field of Instit and Allegorie De Vassy look very, very average, and her success at Huntingdon in January 2024 also showed good potential.

    Keith Donoghue keeps the ride, so she is my pick.

    Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3:20, Friday) – The Big Westerner @ 8/1 (ante-post)

    The Albert Bartlett sees another one of my ante-post tips come to the fore with The Big Westerner.

    She’s 4/1 now, we tipped her at 8/1 in January, so the value is there. Can’t wait for her to lose.

    For my full reasoning, click here.

    St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase (4:40, Friday) – Rocky’s Howya @ 18/1 with William Hill – 0.5pt EW

    The Hunters’ Chase is actually a race I’ve managed to find success in previously. Sine Nomine was nice last year and Its On The Line placed at a big price in 2023.

    I’m taking the latter on with a horse who beat him in May 2023, and that’s Rocky’s Howya.

    I’m not going to claim to know the Irish point-to-point form extensively, but this nine-year-old beat the classy hunter chaser comfortably on yielding ground at Ballindenisk.

    The description suggests that he won “comfortably”, but he went on to have a setback that kept him away from the track until November 2024.

    He finished second to Winged Leader, who has won four races since, on his reappearance and he returned to the winners’ podium at Cragmore when putting 26 lengths between himself and the third, the former Nicky Henderson-trained City Chief.

    He has the ability to win this.

    Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5:20, Friday) – East India Express @ 12/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 0.5pt EW

    East India Express isn’t the typical Martin Pipe fancy, but he must have a good chance with just a 6lb raise for his win at Kempton on Boxing Day.

    He’s snuck into the bottom of the weights (number 22 of 24) and he was only given a 6lb hike for comfortably beating a fine field on King George Day. The third, Samuel Spade, won at Ascot two starts later and the seventh, Mahons Glory, won on his chasing debut for Dylan Cunha on his latest start.

    Freddie Gordon doesn’t get to claim in this race, so that is duly noted, but he won very nicely at the end on a sound surface.

    He’s a young, steady improver who jumps nicely and can continue to win races.

  • Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 3 Tips | Heart in the right place

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 3 Tips | Heart in the right place

    Well, day one of the Cheltenham Festival is finished at the time of writing, so before the second day kicks off, here are my Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 3 Tips.

    What a day at Prestbury Park today. Drama-fueled doesn’t begin to describe it, but let’s stick to the column.

    Jango Baie won at 7/1, and he covered the other losses we took on the day. Workahead and Broadway Boy were very disappointing, though Liam Swagger placed in the Fred Winter and Kyntara ran a poor race.

    Let’s roll on to my fancies for day three.

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 3 Tips

    Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1:20, Thursday) – Maughreen @ 6/1 with Betfred (4 places) – 1pt EW

    The one horse who has been a bit divisive on the preview panels in the lead-up to the Festival is Maughreen, but I’m in her camp rather than looking to take her on.

    This does come with a caveat – the word doing the rounds is that Gavin Cromwell thinks Sixandahalf is a certainty. Superb.

    I just can’t help but be impressed regarding Maughreen from her two starts so far. Her bumper was great, even if she beat statues, and she put in a nice effort when winning on hurdles debut.

    The ground was heavy, and one could argue she wouldn’t have loved that surface, especially on her seasonal/hurdles debut. Familiar Dreams, a Grade 3 bumper winner, came out of that race and won next time out to give the form some substance.

    She is a half-sister to Blow Your Wad who won a Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase on a nice surface and also a decent Kempton handicap on good ground. Her other sibling, Sweetowatch, won a Bellewstown bumper on good and finished second in a Sligo bumper on good to firm.

    I think she could be better than this field, so she gets my vote despite her relative inexperience.

    Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2:00, Thursday) – Firefox @ 15/2 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    I know connections have toyed with the idea of 2m4f for Firefox over the last few years without too much success, but the seven-year-old is dipping his toe into handicap company for the first time, and that makes me interested.

    He’s raced against some good horses over the last few years, notably Mystical Power, Heart Wood, Croke Park, Ile Atlantique, Majborough, and Slade Steel.

    He’s shown a consistent level of ability on pretty much every start over obstacles, which has been good to see, and there have been excuses for some of his disappointments.

    He scoped dirty after the Lawlor’s Of Naas last season and he was taken a bit off his feet in this year’s Irish Arkle behind Majborough.

    His chasing debut over 2m4f was successful on nice ground and he ran a very fine race behind Heart Wood and Croke Park over that distance in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices’ Chase.

    Although he has plenty of experience on soft ground, he has shown tendencies for enjoying better ground, notably in his winning bumper at Navan, at the 2024 Punchestown Festival, and on his chasing debut.

    This nice Cheltenham ground will be right up his street, and the make-up of the race (handicap and over 2m4f) will help him get into a nice rhythm rather than running in a hot two-mile Grade 1.

    A mark of 150 is fine and Jack Kennedy is booked to do the steering. I like him.

    Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (2:40, Cheltenham) – Supreme Gift @ 40/1 with William Hill (6 places) – 0.5pt EW

    The Pertemps can throw up a surprise or two. I’m hoping this is the case as Supreme Gift is a big price.

    He won nicely at Ascot last season on decent ground when Josh The Boss, a subsequent Silver Trophy winner, was back through the field.

    His last winning mark came off a one-pound lower mark when beating Harbour Lake, who reopposes here, and that came on soft ground.

    He’s shown a good deal of ability on better surfaces before, notably when winning that previously mentioned Ascot race over 2m5f, and he could really outrun his odds.

    Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (2:40, Cheltenham) – Bugise Seagull @ 28/1 with William Hill (6 places) – 0.5pt EW

    As already mentioned, the Pertemps can be a nightmare, but I do want to keep Bugise Seagull on side at a price.

    This season hasn’t gone too much to plan, but that has resulted in him running here on a rating of 139 despite placing in a Grade 1 and Listed race last season.

    The Grade 1 came behind Brighterdaysahead at Aintree with Jimmy Du Seuil, the Coral Cup winner, in fourth.

    Furthermore, the Listed race he ran in was the Sidney Banks behind the two future Grade 1 winners Handstands and Jango Baie.

    He’s shown tendencies to run well on nicer ground for much of his career and his two runs at three miles in handicap hurdles this season have been intriging.

    With that good Graded form stated, he remains unexposed off 139 in a well-run handicap. Both he and Supreme Gift are big prices who have the capabilities of running nice races.

    Ryanair Chase (3.20, Thursday) – Heart Wood @ 16/1 (ante-post tip)

    Another one of my ante-post bets from this column for the week, this time in the Ryanair Chase with Heart Wood.

    In fairness, with the sheer lack of chat for this horse, I thought he might even drift out from the 16/1 price that I got at the day before the William Hill Hurdle (February 7th), but he’s held his price and even come in a few clicks with some firms.

    For my full explanation, click here and read the top section. Moving on.

    Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (4:00, Thursday) – Lucky Place @ 7/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    Lucky Place was probably unlucky (lucky) not to make the ante-post selections, but he wasn’t much bigger than his current 7/1 price for the majority of February, so I’m happy we’ve waited until now to play him.

    It surprised me just how bullish Nicky Henderson was on his media day when talking about this horse. Now, that may turn out to be a bad omen, but I was taken back by his comments about a horse that I’ve always liked.

    He ran a huge race in Langer Dan’s Coral Cup last year carrying the weight of bad stable form and my money, and he’s just continued to improve this season.

    He won an Ascot Hurdle when Henderson’s runners needed their seasonal openers, and he further improved to win the Relkeel Hurdle when giving 6lbs away to a subsequent Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road.

    He also gave 10lbs away to Golden Ace, a subsequent Elite Hurdle and Champion Hurdle (I know) winner. Funnily enough, he gave a full 14lbs away to Jeremy Scott’s mare at Taunton on his third start over hurdles and ran a proper race for a long way before finishing second. His subsequent Gidleigh Park form has also worked out well.

    He’s a tough horse. He doesn’t look overly big; he just looks well-built, straightforward, and honest, and he’ll handle a sounder surface.

    Go on, the boy.

    Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase (4:40, Thursday) – Ginny’s Destiny @ 10/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 1pt EW

    I read a funny little stat the other day from the very shrewd Matt Tombs, so I’m going to share it here.

    In a Racing TV article from the middle of last month, when talking about handicappers at the Cheltenham Festival, he said: “If you’d backed all 102 British “dropped horses” blind at the past three Festivals you would have made a 51pt (50%) profit, so even before we use our judgment to improve returns, it has been a profitable trend to follow.”

    To read the full article, please click here. I would thoroughly recommend it.

    I thought that was pretty remarkable. Considering there have been 102 handicapper droppers from this side of the Irish Sea over the last few Festivals, to walk away with the same amount of money in your pocket is not something everyone would have guessed.

    Anyway, why is this relevant? Well, Ginny’s Destiny started this season with a rating of 155 and he is now down to a mark of 149. Appealing.

    Tombs actually says in his piece that “if you use stable form as an excuse then he looks well handicapped”, and this is how I would read his season.

    All of Paul Nicholls’ runners needed their first run this season, so you can put a line through the Paddy Power Gold Cup. On his next start in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase, Nicholls’ runners were still a bit below the mark and did the fast right-handed nature of Huntingdon really suit him that much? Probably not.

    Yes, he was poor on Trials Day, but I’ll forgive him. I don’t want to say Nicholls’ runners were under a small cloud at the time again, but they weren’t exactly on fire.

    He’s well-handicapped based on his Turners form with Grey Dawning and Djelo, and I’d like to see him make all from the front in a race like this. He’s the play.

    Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (5:20, Thursday) – Fantastic Lady @ 25/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 0.5pt EW

    The Kim Muir is always a tricky race to work out, but Fantastic Lady could have the class edge.

    She beat Ga Law in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown in April and ran a fine race behind Don’t Rightly Know and Apple Away in a Listed Mares’ Chase at Newbury in January.

    Apple Away went on to finish third in the Grand National Trial and Don’t Rightly Know beat Malina Girl in another Listed Mares’ Chase on her next start. Malina Girl ran well in Tuesday’s Ultima to create a bit of collateral form.

    Her last run at Newbury came on soft ground, but a return to a slightly nicer surface should help her and she has dropped 5lbs in the handicap from her opening mark at the start of this season.

    Jack Hendrick is booked for the ride, so he claims a useful 3lbs in the saddle, so she could run well in the first-time cheekpieces.

  • Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 2 Tips | Not another acca

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 2 Tips | Not another acca

    At the time of writing, jump racing’s Olympics has not yet kicked off, so let’s just assume I’m about to have a perfect first day ahead of my Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 2 Tips.

    I’m kidding, of course, but these are my finalised fancies for the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, a day that sees Jonbon, The New Lion, Ballyburn, and, most importantly, Roi Mage strut their stuff.

    Just quickly, the ground is going to be very interesting. In my head, I had been working on nice, good to soft spring ground, but bits and pieces of rain (and watering) could well change that. I’m hopeful it’ll be close to this, but things can change.

    Let’s dive in.

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 2 Tips

    Turners Novices’ Hurdle (1:20, Wednesday) – The New Lion @ 15/8 with BetVictor– 2pt Win

    I think The New Lion will be too good for his rivals in the Turners, and I don’t think he price is bad at all.

    Firstly, I see Potters Charm as the each-way danger in this contest. He’s a general price of 10/1 currently, but I’m happy to let it ride out with my 7/1 ante-post tip. He was put up in this column as a 1pt win, so if he obliges, happy days.

    As for The New Lion, I really believe he is the one to beat, and a lot of his form reads favourably. He beat Belliano on debut at Chepstow who has won two since.

    The six-year-old by Kayf Tara then smashed Califet En Vol, a subsequent Sidney Banks winner, in a novice hurdle at Newbury before he won in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle superbly well.

    I don’t get the ‘Challow winners have a bad Cheltenham record’ argument. It’s a differently run race each year with different horses who go on to face different opponents in a different race at Cheltenham.

    I’m not sure how well adapted Final Demand will be to a potentially fast-paced Turners, and the same goes for The Yellow Clay, so The New Lion gets my vote.

    Turners Novices’ Hurdle (1:20, Wednesday) – Potters Charm @ 7/1 (ante-post bet)

    As mentioned, I have a super shrewd ante-post bet on Potters Charm at 7/1 for the Turners. He’s currently 14/1. A job well done.

    To read my write-up, click here.

    Coral Cup (2:40 Wednesday) – Be Aware @ 9/1 (ante-post bet)

    I’ll keep this short and sweet, Be Aware is my Coral Cup fancy, and he’s probably one of my stronger handicap bets of the week.

    He’s a mixture of 5/1 and 4/1 now, so I won’t be topping up, but this column has a nice bit of 9/1 in the satchel ahead of the Coral Cup.

    For my full reasoning on him, click here.

    Let’s hope he obliges and isn’t another value loser.

    Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3:20, Wednesday) – Galvin @ 4/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

    In the Cross Country Chase, I’ve come around to the idea that Galvin will be too good, and he’s even getting weight from Stumptown here!

    There’s no Delta Work for him to run into here, and there’s also no Minella Indo or I Am Maximus for him to take on either, so this looks like one of his easiest assignments in a while.

    In the 2023 Cross Country Chase when second to Delta Work, he travelled powerfully around the fresh ground of the cross-country course but probably didn’t enjoy stepping onto the used course proper.

    Funnily enough, he jumped the last obstacle quicker than Delta Work that day but was just done on the ground up the hill.

    Having looked back through his form, I was reminded of how well he goes when he is fresh. He’s won off breaks including 154, 119, 144, and 211 days, so this 144-day break shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

    The ground debate is a bit up in the air in my mind. It’s probably not going to be as quick as it was once predicted, but there is good in the description already on the cross-country course, so I imagine the surface will be fine.

    He’s one I’m willing to back at the head of the market.

    Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3:20, Wednesday) – Roi Mage @ 25/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 0.5pt EW

    Cliff horses: they’re great fun, aren’t they? Roi Mage certainly fits that bill, but it’s easy to fancy him in the Cross Country Chase for Patrick Griffin and James Reveley.

    In his limited experience around the Cheltenham cross-country course, he lobbed along under Patrick Mullins off 149 on Trials Day in 2023 before just getting the 20th fence all wrong.

    He’s subsequently finished seventh in Corach Rambler’s Grand National and ninth in I Am Maximus’ Grand National off 149 and 147 respectively.

    A rating of 145 therefore gives him a nice chance in this handicap challenge, especially when you look at his success in the Grand Cross at Craon last year.

    He beat Sweet David by seven lengths that day; Sweet David went on to defy a mark of 140 in the cross country race at the Cheltenham November meeting.

    He won at Compiegne in November 2023 off a 209-day break and he won at the same course in September 2021 off a 127-day break.

    Coming into this race fresh is no issue, so he’s worth covering each way at a smaller stake.

    Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4:40, Wednesday) – My Mate Mozzie @ 13/2 with Betfred – 1pt Win

    I’m annoyed that My Mate Mozzie has come for some support in the Grand Annual as he looked like a lovely price at 14/1 ante-post.

    Alas, I will still back him for the Grand Annual as I think he is the one here who is less exposed and is well-weighted.

    Gavin Cromwell has always said he prefers nice spring ground, something he has a chance of getting this week, and he isn’t that exposed in handicaps.

    It’s easy to forget that he finished a staying-on second in the 2023 Racing Post Novice Chase to Found A Fifty on yielding ground, and Found A Fifty’s form with Solness, Senecia, Il Etait Temps, Master Chewy, and Pinkerton has worked out nicely.

    My Mate Mozzie finished third in Zarak The Brave’s Galway Hurdle and he was third in the 2024 renewal to the runaway Nurburgring.

    He’s bolted up over the course and distance before when the ground was good, and his first run for 125 days at the Dublin Racing Festival was promising.

    He’s been targeted towards this race all season, and he’s certainly going to be hard on the bridle turning for home. After that, his chance is in the hands of the gods.

    He’s my main fancy in the race.

    Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4:40, Wednesday) – JPR One @ 10/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    My Mate Mozzie may be my number one hope, but I can see JPR One outrunning his odds if the ground stays on the nice side.

    He’s 7lbs higher than his last winning mark, but he beat a subsequent two-time Grade 2 winner that day (Djelo) and he won fairly comfortably.

    His form as a novice chaser also looks good, especially when he beat Matata and Master Chewy at Lingfield on soft ground in the Lightning Novices’ Chase.

    His run behind Jonbon at Sandown in December was also pretty good on undesirable ground, and I’m hoping his Game Spirit effort (which also came on soft) just blew the cobwebs off nicely.

    He’s not chucked in off 156, but he’s classy in the correct conditions and he could be one that people may forget. The more of this predicted rain that lands in Gloucestershire, the worse his chance gets.

    Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5:20, Wednesday) – Kalypso’chance @ 13/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    I get the impression that Kalypso’chance is quite a nice horse, and he’d be my idea of the Champion Bumper winner.

    Yes, taking on ‘Willie’s in the bumper’ comes with its risks, but they aren’t the most convincing market leaders for a Champion Bumper I’ve ever seen. Gameofinches looks like a fine beast for the future and I do think Copacabana is priced accordingly just because W P Mullins trains him.

    They are nice horses, no doubt, but I’m happy to take them on with a fairly solid Gordon Elliott-trained runner instead.

    Kalypso’chance bolted up at Punchestown on rules debut before showing a really nice turn of foot at Navan despite his apparent greenness. Heads Up, the runner-up, was an impressive bumper winner himself and he finished second to the subsequent Grade 2 DRF bumper winner Colcannon at Galway in October.

    I do have a small worry about nice ground. He’s by Masked Marvel, the sire of Teahupoo, Maskada, Predators Gold, and a host of soft ground-loving horses, but it won’t be rattling quick, so that should be fine.

    Nice spring ground should be fine, and he looks like a speedy horse, so maybe he could actually appreciate a bit of a bounce in the surface.

    Gigginstown don’t tend to send many to the Champion Bumper, but when they do, it’s for a reason. Jalon d’Oudairies finished third last year and Abacadabras was fourth to Envoi Allen in 2019.

    He’s my main Champion Bumper horse, especially with Kaylan now no longer going to the contest.

    Three-fold acca – The New Lion (1:20), Ballyburn (2:00) & Jonbon (4:00) @ 11/1 with BetVictor – 1pt Win

    This is a first for the column and don’t think this is something that will be staying, but I’m pretty happy with the price of the three-fold accumulator for The New Lion in the Turners, Ballyburn in the Brown Advisory, and Jonbon in the Champion Chase.

    My case for The New Lion has already been advertised, but why am I chucking in Ballyburn and Jonbon for a three-fold acca?

    Look, firstly, I’m not usually one for these short-priced Cheltenham accas that get passed around on Racing X like a bottle of vodka at a house party.

    It’s not usually my style as I like to either find an angle against them or to avoid the race completely.

    However, my love for Jonbon is well-documented, and I think his price of 10/11 with BetVictor in the Champion Chase is more than acceptable. If he didn’t take the fourth-last fence home to Lambourn with him during the 2024 Clarence House, he’d be 4/6 for this race.

    As for Ballyburn, I’ve just come around to him over the last few days. He’s 6/5 with BetVictor, and that’s fine for a horse who was clearly the best hurdler last season.

    I think Ballyburn has a class edge over his rivals, he’s ground versatile, and his last run when beating Croke Park at Leopardstown was obviously nice on the eye.

    10.5/1 is the price of the treble on William Hill. Sure, why not? 1pt on at that price won’t hurt. Of course, if it goes down after one leg, the egg will indeed be on my face.

  • Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 1 Tips | The absolute Boy

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 | Day 1 Tips | The absolute Boy

    So, this is it, here are my Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 1 Tips.

    I always think this time of the Cheltenham build-up is fascinating. Chat is at its highest from every single camp, and it’s so easy to be influenced into backing or not backing one.

    A horse you wouldn’t have given one look to, let alone two, suddenly finds a way into your brain and it’s all you can think of.

    I can’t tell you how much time, and staring into the abyss, was spent on Unexpected Party and the nightmarish Grand Annual on Tuesday afternoon. More to come.

    Anyway, this article will run through my selections for the first day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Last year I didn’t put points against my Cheltenham fancies, so this year is a small step into the unknown.

    For the benefit of clarity, I am gutted Golden Ace has not been declared for the Mares’ Hurdle. She would have been my fancy with or without Lossiemouth.

    Final bit of housekeeping, I won’t have a selection for every race, but this is the Cheltenham Festival, so I’ll naturally have more selections than my standard weekend columns. Because of this, I’ll keep these write-ups on the slimmer side.

    Also, any ante-post bets that have already been advised will be spoken about at the relevant race.

    Anyway, let’s do this.

    Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 1 Tips

    Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20, Tuesday) – Workahead @ 9/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    Yes, I’m one of the ‘wise guys’ that’s taking on Kopek Des Bordes, but please indulge me momentarily.

    When looking at this race for the first time last week, Workahead was the horse who thoroughly impressed me with my eyes and on the clock.

    On his second run over hurdles at Leopardstown, he carried 5lbs more than Kopek Des Bordes, who won on his hurdles debut one race previously, and ran an almost identical overall time. Workahead made all, set his own tempo, and was quicker from the second hurdle to the line; Kopek Des Bordes had Gordon Elliott’s Whinney Hill to shoot at for much of the journey.

    Yes, Kopek Des Bordes’ jumping was bad this day and he improved to win his Grade 1 at the DRF, but the occasion of the Cheltenham Festival could hypothetically see him return to his previous poor jumping, and who’s to say Workahead can’t improve from this run?

    Furthermore, Workahead’s overall time was two seconds quicker than the Grade 2 juvenile contest won by Hello Neighbour who was carrying 12 pounds fewer.

    Away from the times, it’s hard not to be thoroughly excited by what he did on the eye. He winged almost every hurdle and he was able to quicken off his own tempo around the home turn.

    He kicked William Munny, a subsequent winner (144 RPR) and runner-up to Kawaboomga, out of the way and the third a massive 20 lengths behind.

    The seven-year-old by Workforce managed to do all of this in a time when the Henry de Bromhead stable was out of form, and even his pedigree reads well as he is a half-brother to the useful Bronn.

    With the yard now in form, the recent comments from de Bromhead have been positive for Workahead and he is a horse who excites me a lot.

    Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (2:00, Tuesday) – Jango Baie @ 7/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

    So much for keeping these descriptions short. Just the 295 words spent on the Supreme!

    I’m less inclined to take on the favourite, Willie Mullins’ Majborough, in the Arkle, but it would be remiss of me to ditch Jango Baie at the 11th hour.

    Jango Baie’s chasing debut at Cheltenham over 2m4f was one of the best chasing debuts of the whole season in my eyes.

    Behind maybe his stablemate Sir Gino, the way he took to fences like he was an experienced steeplechaser was a sight to behold, and he won’t be lacking for jumping speed in this Arkle, that’s for sure.

    Tactical speed is the question mark, but he showed a nice turn of foot when beating Tellherthename on hurdles debut and he didn’t lack speed at the end of last season when he finished second in a handicap at Aintree over 2m4f.

    He was nearly taken out of the race by Cuthbert Dibble that day, but he reset, picked up quickly, and chased home Kateira from another parish to finish second.

    There’s a chance they won’t do this, but I’d like them to be aggressive on Jango Baie and let him stride on. I think that’s potentially a way to get Majborough beaten, and if L’Eau Du Sud beats you, then fair enough.

    Jango Baie’s jumping is so good. He sometimes doesn’t settle in his races, so this is maybe why they won’t do this, but if they allow him to jump on and build up a lead, you can put pressure on the other two.

    Anyway, it’s a tough race, but Jango Baie is a horse I rate highly, and he gets my vote.

    Ultima Handicap Chase (2.40, Tuesday) – Broadway Boy @ 10/1 (ante-post)

    This one will be simpler to explain as Broadway Boy is my choice in the Ultima. Well, he was an ante-post play for the column at 10/1 two weeks ago, so we are in a nice position.

    I really like his chances, and I don’t think he’s a bad price currently at 7/1.

    For a full write-up on him, please read here.

    Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40, Tuesday) – Beyond Your Dreams @ 13/2 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    In the Boodles, sorry, the Hallgarten And Novum Wines, JP McManus could have the key with Beyond Your Dreams.

    For a horse of her ability, a mark of 123 looks lenient. Admittedly, she jumped like a grand piano on her latest start, but she had no right to win from her position and yet she still did.

    She finished a staying-on second to Total Look at Navan in November when she had to switch paths before the final hurdle, and the form of the race is working out well.

    Total Look finished second at Cheltenham behind Teriferma and Quantock Hills before running an eye-catching race behind Slurricane at Punchestown.

    The third, Wendrock, went on to beat Galileo Dame at Leopardstown in December before finishing fourth in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.

    She’s bound to get her ground; her jumping is the only concern. It’s a fairly big concern, admittedly, but I’m hoping a combination of schooling and first-time headgear will help her.

    Interestingly, the 1-2-4-5 in the 2023 Fred Winter were all sporting a set of first-time cheekpieces, so I’m hoping this stat will be relevant on Tuesday.

    Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40, Tuesday) – Liam Swagger @ 20/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 0.5pt EW

    With the nature of the Fred Winter, a few horses make appeal, and Liam Swagger is one I’m keen to keep on side.

    He was a decent Flat horse for James Owen having achieved a rating of 82 and bolted up at Southwell last month as a preparation for this race.

    Before that Southwell run, he looked good in three starts over obstacles, and the horses he beat were no mugs.

    On his hurdles debut, he beat Torrent (rated 121) by over four lengths comfortably when getting 8lbs and on his next start he saw off the challenge of Static (rated 122) to win a Listed race at Wetherby.

    He got a bit stuck in the mud at Newbury on soft ground in December and it was his 10th run since March having raced on the Flat in the summer, so I can excuse him for getting beaten at odds of 8/15,

    He also gave 10lbs away to the unexposed Believitanducan, and the pair pulled well-clear of the third, Rakki.

    The cheekpieces returned at Southwell on the Flat last month having been absent for his three hurdles efforts, so they could remain on, which would help him, and I’m hoping the post-Christmas break has done him the world of good.

    Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (5:20, Tuesday) – Kyntara @ 22/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 0.5pt EW

    I caught onto the idea of Kyntara for the National Hunt Chase a few weeks ago, and now he’s made it into the race as number 16 on the list, I’ll chance him with a small stake.

    Quite simply, his chase rating of 125 is 9lbs below his hurdles mark and he’s only had three runs over fences compared to his 11 over the smaller obstacles.

    He looked laboured on chase debut for Kim Bailey, and he needed his first run of this season when returning to fences, but his Windsor run in January promised more.

    His jumping was more consistent and he stayed on for pressure despite getting badly hampered by the falling Myretown at the third-last.

    On his hurdles form, he has a right chance off 125. He finished second in a Warwick handicap off 124, second in a Newbury handicap off 128, second in a Pertemps (won by Monmiral) off 131, and he was running a huge race behind Dancing City and The Jukebox Man in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle before falling.

    That form is good enough to make me back him, though it is a smaller stakes play.

  • Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips #5 | Morebattle Hurdle Preview

    Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips #5 | Morebattle Hurdle Preview

    Well, Prestbury Park’s showcase meeting of the year is very, very close, but before then I have some free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips and a weekend preview to share.

    Yes, this piece will highlight my fifth and final Cheltenham Festival ante-post tip alongside four bets for this weekend across Kelso and Newbury.

    In what is my final column of the month, we are pretty much dead-level for February. The column is up 0.56pts at an ROI of 1.8%. Big numbers, I know.

    Let’s try not to give anything away before Cheltenham.

    Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips

    Broadway Boy @ 10/1 (general) – Ultima Handicap Chase

    The Ultima Handicap Chase looks like an interesting race at this stage. Money is coming for Whistle Stop Tour at a big price and a few people like Henry’s Friend, but Broadway Boy is my horse.

    He has a rating of 150 now which, admittedly, is a career-high mark, but he’s been rated between 146 and 150 for 15 months now due to a few blow-outs and poor performances when needing the run.

    His last win came off 146 over 3m2f on the new course at Cheltenham where he beat Threeunderthrufive (rated 150 at the time). The runner-up went on to win a valuable handicap chase at Ascot before nearly winning the same Ascot race earlier this month.

    As for this season, Broadway Boy blew off the cobwebs at Prestbury Park before a mighty effort in the Coral Gold Cup behind Kandoo Kid.

    The race has produced Henry’s Friend and Victtorino as two subsequent winners, and Paul Nicholls is adamant Kandoo Kid will run a big race in the Grand National.

    The Coral Gold Cup looks like a notable piece of form in the staying chasing ranks this season, and the mistake he made at the fourth-last didn’t help his charge towards the line.

    Looking at his potential opposition, there aren’t many horses that look like ‘chucked-in’ contenders. Th Ultima never usually has this type of horse, and this year looks very similar.

    Broadway Boy, with his age, could well be a 160-rated chaser in time, so he has the scope to go well at a course he loves.

    Weekend Selections

    1:10 Kelso – Helnwein @ 7/4 with William Hill – 2pt Win

    For the first time in a while, I’m putting up two 2pt win selections, and the first comes in the Kelso opener with Helnwein.

    I want to start by talking about his opposition. Real Stone loves the mud and he won last time out on soft ground. He’s also won on heavy before and he has been declared a non-runner on good in the past.

    Similarly, Netywell has won all four of his races on heavy and he has been a non-runner on good to soft before. 

    Bollingerandkrug is 10 and has been beaten by a combined distance of 51 lengths on his last three starts, Kidman is a bit of an unknown but he doesn’t appear to be obviously well-handicapped, and Gallic Geordie is 12 who could probably do with a softer surface.

    So, by the process of elimination alone, that points to Helnwein, and his form backs that up.

    He beat Be Aware on his final start of last season on good ground and he split Secret Squirrel and Lario at Taunton in April.

    That success over Be Aware also saw him best Secret Squirrel, Steel Ally, and Fiercely Proud, so that piece of form is the best on offer.

    Back on a sounder surface should really suit him and he looks like a fair price to win his first race over fences.

    2:20 Kelso – Fontana Ellissi @ 33/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW

    I’m taking a bit of a chance on the rank outsider in the 2m5f handicap hurdle as Fontana Ellissi could land a minor surprise.

    He’s had two separate setbacks in the last two years, so he’s only raced three times since the start of 2023.

    Because of this, the handicapper has relented to give him a mark of 110 which is 1lb below his last winning mark, though his most recent success came in February 2022 at Ffos Las.

    A few months after Ffos Las, he chased home a then-129-rated Seddon over 2m4f at Cheltenham on good ground before nearly winning over three miles at Prestbury Park in November 2022.

    Those runs came with official ratings of 114 and 118, so he is well-handicapped based on that form.

    After his first setback, he actually ran some fine races behind White Rhino and Butch at Cheltenham on two separate occasions, but both runs were probably on softer-than-ideal ground.

    Back on a sounder surface will suit him nicely, and connections are applying a first-time set of cheekpieces. Benjamin Macey’s 7lb claim is useful, and he is an interesting runner at a big price.

    3:30 Kelso – Tellherthename @ 9/2 with William Hill – 2pt Win

    For a week or so, I’ve been all-in on Tellherthename fotr the Morebattle, and my confidence has not wavered.

    Let’s start with his campaign so far this season as it’s not been conventional. Having been a short price for the Greatwood Hurdle, connections missed that and sent him to the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth instead. Why?

    Did they want to protect his mark while also getting race fitness into him? Maybe.

    Still, it worked as he ran an eye-catching race behind Sir Gino and was raised just two pounds from the handicapper.

    He’s been absent since, though news came out before the William Hill Hurdle that he had to get a benign tumour removed which set him back a few weeks.

    He didn’t go for the William Hill Hurdle which, in my eyes, was weird because Andrew Megson said it was the plan in a Racing TV article in January.

    Maybe, just maybe, connections decided that they wanted to give the £100,000 Morebattle-Cheltenham Festival bonus a try, but nothing has been confirmed. At least we know the first half of that double is being attempted!

    I’m drawn into the hype that it has been a plan, and as such, I’ve had a small nibble at the 33/1 available for the County Hurdle

    This is a fairly bold claim, but I think he’s one of the best-handicapped hurdlers in the game based on his novice form.

    He was just nudged out by Jango Baie on hurdles debut before smashing Lucky Place at Huntingdon in a canter. When with Ben Pauling, he was thought of as a genuine Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender, but the ground turned on him.

    He’s thoroughly unexposed in this company, and while I couldn’t get a definite answer out of AJ O’Neill on Monday’s media visit regarding an attempt at the £100,000 bonus, there was somewhat of a twinkle in his eye regarding this weekend.

    4:15 Newbury – Go To War @ 8/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW

    Over at Newbury, I’m willing to forgive Go To War and keep my fingers crossed that he can win on his third dive into handicap company.

    For a Fergal O’Brien-trained horse, he attracted plenty of chat as his trainer and Paddy Brennan spoke very highly of him.

    I caught onto the hype, so when he pretty much ran out at Exeter in October 2023 and was then beaten at Taunton in November, I was surprised.

    He put that behind him to beat Jour d’Evasion comfortably on a much slower surface at Ludlow before returning to the track to put Court In The Act away.

    Jour d’Evasion is rated 120 and Court In The Act has a rating of 126, so beating them by seven and three lengths respectively looks like good form considering he is rated 124.

    Go To War ran a fine race on his debut for Nicky Henderson at Huntingdon in December (when he probably needed the run), though he was poor at Newbury on Challow Novices’ Hurdle Day.

    He was sent off the 7/2 favourite that day, but the vet reported that he sustained a wound to his left fore which could explain the performance shown.

    I like their persistence in trying 2m4f again, and the soft ground should play to his strengths.

    If Henderson has gotten any improvement out of Go To War since he’s had him, he can make his mark of 124 look a bit silly and this is a winnable race.

  • Free Kempton Park Racecourse Racing Tips | Harping with quality

    Free Kempton Park Racecourse Racing Tips | Harping with quality

    The Bestofbets.com column is back with some Free Kempton Park Racecourse Racing Tips for Saturday’s Coral Trophy card.

    Last week, Pic D’Orhy was the only think to shout about, and seven says later, I am putting my trust in another short-priced Paul Nicholls runner.

    So, let’s dive in.

    Free Kempton Park Racecourse Racing Tips

    1:50 Kempton – Rubaud @ 11/8 with William Hill – 2pt Win

    I think today is quite hard, but I’m happy to have some outlay on Rubaud in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase.

    The base facts behind this horse are that he is a classy horse, he loves Kempton, and he gets his ground.

    His last run at Warwick in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase was a solid effort around a completely different course to this on the wrong ground in a slightly below-par time for the Paul Nicholls yard.

    The run can be massively upgraded for this, and, furthermore, nearly running down L’Eau Du Sud, the best British chance in this year’s Arkle, is objectively good form.

    Three of his six rivals have to give him weight as well, so that’s another thing going for him.

    I think there’s plenty in the favour of Rubaud today, and he gets my strong vote of confidence.

    3:07 Chepstow – Harper’s Brook @ 9/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

    Have I hit my head? Not that I know of. Am I going insane? Maybe.

    However, Harper’s Brook is my likely winner of the two-mile handicap chase at Chepstow as long as he can put his quirky tendencies to one side.

    Yes, he can refrain from getting his head in front from time to time, but that still means he’s a well-treated horse off 138 and his form still looks good.

    He won off 136 at Wetherby two starts ago and he beat Sacre Coeur by seven lengths off the same mark at Sandown last season. The runner-up has won two races since and is still rated 132.

    His opponents today aren’t a vintage bunch. Indiana Dream ran like a drain at Windsor last month, Sans Bruit has Aintree in mind (though he is a big danger), D J Eckleburg has risen through the handicap by 13lbs since November, Prince Quali is effectively 8lbs higher than his last winning mark, and Jetronic needs to prove his ability.

    Javert Allen is a worthy favourite, but there’s no guarantee he will continue to improve.

    Harper’s Brook looks like a horse who will run his race, and even with his unique characteristics, he is still a talented horse who can win.

    He gets my vote.

    4:10 Kempton – Bourbali @ 8/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    Bourbali has raced six times around Kempton Park previously, winning two of them, so this return to the right-handed track can encourage his best once again.

    Of those two wins at Kempton Park, he beat Frere d’Armes off 127 and he beat First Street in a two-runner novice chase.

    Furthermore, even some of his defeats at this course look like good form, notably his second off 126 over hurdles to the then-123-rated Grey Dawning in December 2022 over 2m5f on soft ground.

    Over fences, he finished a fine fourth of four in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase last season, a race that produced the future Grade 1 runner-up Master Chewy, Grade 1 winner Nickle Back, and Grade 2 winner Soul Icon.

    He’s never won off a mark of 129, so that is a small worry, but his last win was that success off a 2lb lower mark at Kempton in October 2024 and he was third on two occasions in the first half of the season off 130 and 131.

    Ideal Des Bordes has question marks over this trip, Bad has promised to win his last 12 races, Blow Your Wad is returning from a 317-day break, and Etalon may have longer-term targets.

    Therefore, Bourbali looks like a fine price as an each-way proposition.

  • Free Cheltenham Festival Ante-post Tips | Lion In The Park

    Free Cheltenham Festival Ante-post Tips | Lion In The Park

    Episode four of the free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post tips article is here and I have a 10/1 Coral Cup selection to put up.

    Furthermore, this piece will provide fancies for this weekend’s selections across Ascot and Haydock.

    For the benefit of clarity, the last month or so has been on the rougher side for the column, and even though the P&L is at a loss for January and the start of February, it’s not too bad.

    Trials Day was a case of damage limitation to put the column at -5.8 for January and last week helped plug the DRF-shaped hole. The column is currently at -1.29 for the month, leaving the overall P&L (since March 2024) at +52.31.

    Anyway, let’s kick on.

    Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips

    Coral Cup – Be Aware @ 9/1 with Betfred – 1pt Win

    This week, I’m putting forward my first handicap selection for the Cheltenham Festival, and the weight of my money will be placed on Be Aware at 9/1 for the Coral Cup.

    He’s one of the market leaders, granted, but he has plenty of upsides, not just in the form book but also as an ante-post play.

    Firstly, he’s qualified. This will be a big thing for this season’s handicap hurdles as some trainers simply haven’t been able to get five runs over obstacles into them.

    The likes of Wingmen and James’s Gate are not qualified, and while Kitzbuhel also isn’t, he’s entered at Gowran Park tomorrow to complete his fifth run over hurdles.

    Kitzbuhel would be a worry, but beating Colonel Mustard last time out might just give him a rather lofty mark. He ran to an RPR of 146 at Punchestown in December, and he’s trained by Willie Mullins.

    Anyway, back to Be Aware as he’s qualified and he’s still unexposed. He beat Navajo Indy on hurdles debut last season, form that looks nice as the runner-up has won the Gerry Feilden since. He also chased home Joyeuse and Lump Sum in the William Hill Hurdle last weekend.

    He finished last season with an admirable run in the novices’ championship final at Sandown when second to Helnwein. The third, Steel Ally, chased home Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle before winning a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock in November.

    Secret Squirrel, the fifth, won a valuable Windsor handicap hurdle in January and the seventh, Fiercely Proud, beat Kabral Du Mathan in a valuable Ascot handicap hurdle in December.

    As for this season, Be Aware finished a good second in the Greatwood Hurdle behind Burdett Road who went on to finish third to Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle.

    He’s set to run in the Kingwell Hurdle this weekend, so hopefully he can frank the form.

    All in all, Be Aware looks to be well-handicapped off 137 and he looks like the type to improve for 2m4f.

    Weekend selections

    2:25 Ascot – Into The Park @ 18/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW

    Taking a chance here, but I’ve always liked Into The Park, and I’m hoping he can reward my faith at some stage.

    He didn’t win at Exeter in December, and that made me wonder if my eyes have deceived me, but he’s only six, so he probably is still working out the game.

    So, why is this horse in my good books? He’s not an old-timer dropping through the weights and he’s not a horse who has a blatant piece of recent form.

    However, the case to make comes from the stopwatch based on his win at Newbury in January 2024. I know, dangerous stuff.

    They went a crawl early on that day, so much so that Into The Park had to make the running forcibly. With some rudimentary timing, his effort from the third-last hurdle to the line was exactly the same as Be Aware who won the first division of the same maiden hurdle.

    Navajo Indy, the subsequent Gerry Feilden winner, was second to Be Aware that day, so the collateral form on the clock looks promising.

    Before that Newbury run, he finished an easy third at Taunton behind Joyeuse, the impressive William Hill Hurdle winner, and the now 125-rated Tutti Quanti. Into The Park gave seven and 13 pounds away respectively that day, so he looks nicely handicapped off 125 here.

    With two runs under his belt this season, the last of which was promising, he can land a surprise here.

    2:40 Haydock – Nemean Lion @ 4/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

    I’m surprised to see Nemean Lion declared for the Rendlesham over the Kingwell Hurdle, but my surprise is positive as I think he can win this.

    Will he stay? Well, that isn’t a certainty, clearly, but he won over 1m4f on the Flat in France in 2020 and he placed in a Group 2 over 1m7f, so there’s hope that he can.

    Furthermore, looking at his win at Windsor last month, he travelled nicely and stayed on to beat Salver over 2m4f on soft ground.

    That was a step in the right direction, though there is still some uncertainty about whether he will see out the trip. In fairness, he won snugly over 2m3½f at Hereford in December, so he’s showing the right signs.

    Apart from that, his form is nice. That Windsor success last month was no walkover, and it’s easy to forget that he forced the pace in last season’s Champion Hurdle. He was there for much of the contest but was passed by faster, and better, rivals that day.

    He gave three pounds away to beat Colonel Mustard in last season’s Kingwell Hurdle, and his run in the 2023 Greatwood Hurdle with Lookaway and Luccia is nice.

    He gets the nod in what looks like a winnable race.

    3:15 Haydock – Galia Des Liteaux @ 10/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    Galia Des Liteaux looks well-handicapped this weekend, and the addition of Tristan Durrell’s three-pound claim gives her a proper chance in the Grand National Trial.

    A few horses are running out of the handicap thanks to Royale Pagaille, notably Jubilee Express, Val Dancer, Git Maker, Famous Bridge, and Where It All Began.

    Galia Des Liteaux is rated 140 and carries 10-4, so she has that to her advantage.

    She hasn’t won a race in handicap company yet, but she finished second in the Classic Chase last season off 142 before finishing a fine eighth in the Grand National off 146.

    So, off 140 with Durrell’s three-pound claim, she looks well-treated.

    Furthermore, on her seasonal reappearance, she finished a nice second to Terresita over 2m4f when giving four pounds away. The winner is rated 15 pounds higher having won a nice Ascot handicap since.

    There’s potentially a small question mark over whether she truly stays a marathon trip having not won one of these long-distance races yet, but she was staying on behind My Silver Lining in the Classic Chase over 3m5f on soft ground when carrying 11-10.

    Good to soft Haydock ground over 3m4½f seems like similar conditions, but this time she has a racing weight of 10-4 (10-1 with Durrell’s claim) which is a stark difference.

    She gets my vote in the National Trial.

    3:37 Ascot – Pic d’Orhy @ 7/4 with William Hill – 2pt Win

    In the big Grade 1 contest of the weekend, Pic d’Orhy is the play.

    Emmet Mullins has warned that Corbetts Cross might not run, but even if he does, good ground around 2m5f surely won’t suit him.

    Similar ground/distance worries can be placed upon L’Homme Presse, Le Patron probably prefers softer conditions, and Flegmatik shouldn’t win this.

    Blue Lord is a small worry, but his recent form is really unencouraging, so using the power of deduction, the favourite looks solid here, and his price isn’t bad.

    Of course, there will be a Rule 4 is Corbetts Cross is a non-runner, but he should still pay above evens which is fine for last year’s winner.

    He smashed them in last year’s race having finished second to Banbridge, the subsequent King George winner, at Kempton on his previous run. He nearly won that day and his jump at the last probably didn’t help.

    Paul Nicholls has already said this in his Betfair preview, but this weekend is a bit of a home game for him, and I hope he can oblige.

  • Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips Newbury Super Saturday Preview

    Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips Newbury Super Saturday Preview

    It’s episode three of the Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips series and this piece includes an interesting 16/1 shot for the Ryanair Chase.

    Furthermore, my full bets for Newbury and Warwick on Saturday are included to enjoy.

    Last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival claimed its fair share of victims, and I was one of them. Day two wasn’t too bad thanks to a couple of places, but day one was a complete blank, so we are off the bridle at the start of this month.

    Hopefully, the tides can change, so let’s dive in.

    Free Cheltenham Festival 2025 Ante-post Tips

    Heart Wood @ 16/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

    I’ve floated around this pick for a while, but I want to get Heart Wood in the book for the Ryanair Chase.

    He’s a progressive seven-year-old who has Grade 1 form in the book, notably when third to Inothewayurthinkin and Iroko at Aintree last season.

    The former has run two good races behind Galopin Des Champs this season and the latter has the Grand National on his agenda, so the form looks fair. Chianti Classico, an Ascot handicap chase winner off 152 in November, was in fourth, so that form has been franked.

    Before that Aintree run, Heart Wood bolted up in a handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival off 136. He was very well-handicapped that day, and the form of the race has worked out.

    James Du Berlais, the third, nearly won the Topham at Aintree subsequently and the likes of Inothewayurthinkin (9th) and Perceval Legallois (fell) went on to win after.

    However, it’s his run in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas that appeals the most to me.

    He travelled strongly through the race, jumped well, and made an eye-catching move around the home turn.

    Ultimately, he didn’t stay the three-mile test against one of the greatest staying chasers in recent memory, but the run was still good, and Grangeclare West (6th) chased home Galopin Des Champs in the recent Irish Gold Cup.

    Heart Wood’s form from the Drinmore Novices’ Chase alongside Croke Park got a boost on the weekend as well, so his form is starting to stack up.

    He’s a big price, and while you’d have to be worried about Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior, and Protektorat if they turned up, I’m happy to chance him.

    Saturday Selections

    3:00 Newbury – JPR One @ 6/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW

    The unfortunate lack of Sir Gino in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase does make it a betting race, and JPR One makes the most appeal at 9/1.

    My one worry is ground with him as Joe Tizzard is fairly insistent that he likes a better surface, and while this may be true, some of his best efforts have come in slower conditions.

    He posted a career-best when third to Jonbon in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase in December on soft and he won the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase on soft ground at Lingfield last season.

    Good to soft, soft in places, should therefore be fine for him, and Newbury tends to dry out faster than some over tracks.

    Away from that, his form stacks up. Matata is the favourite here at 2/1, and while I’m not denying he has improved this season, JPR One beat him fairly comfortably in the Lightning Novices’ Chase in January 2024.

    He beat Djelo, a subsequent Peterborough Chase winner, in the Haldon Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance and then he ran a solid race behind Jonbon at Sandown one month later.

    Any Jonbon form is worth its weight in gold, and being beaten by roughly 10 lengths is virtually the same as what Edwardstone did in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase last month.

    Furthermore, considering he gave Jonbon plenty of rope coming around the pond at Sandown in December, he did well to stay on as well as he did on soft ground.

    JPR One has plenty of form lines that give him an equal/better chance than some of his rivals, yet he is a 9/1 shot and the others are much shorter.

    For that reason, he is a bet.

    3:15 Warwick – Le Milos @ 3/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

    I want to be on Le Milos when he next wins, and I hope Saturday is that day.

    He’s cost me a few pennies so far this season, but he wasn’t ridden correctly in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan at Newbury in November.

    His best efforts have come when picking off rivals and he was ridden from the front on that occasion, so I thought it was his day at Chepstow on Welsh National Day.

    Unfortunately, it wasn’t, but he was beaten by Lowry’s Bar who went on to chase home Jingko Blue in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase.

    He’s dropped to a mark of 139 now, and considering I was happy to back him off 144 two starts ago when he was ‘well-handicapped’, he has to have a good chance at the weights.

    I think this race is easier than that Chepstow contest as well. Shakem Up’arry is on a tough mark and has one day in mind (the Plate at Cheltenham), and it seems like Fugitif has that same target as well.

    Furthermore, I wonder if Richard Hobson has kept Fugitif on the go in preparation for this or if he has had a few easy weeks to give him a nice chance of improving for the Festival.

    If the latter is the case, he might just need this run to fully put him spot on for March, though this is pure speculation on my part. This is a qualifier for a nice £100,000 final, after all.

    So, with a nice rating of 139 and Harry Skelton in the saddle, let’s hope Le Milos can return to the winners’ enclosure.

    3.35 Newbury – Givemefive @ 40/1 with William Hill – 0.5pt EW

    William Hill have Givemefive priced at a very big price of 40/1 in the William Hill Hurdle, and that is too big for a horse of his ability.

    Firstly, Harry Derham has always had this race in the back of his mind, ever since he won the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham in October.

    I’m not suggesting he’s been some plot for the race, but it makes his Windsor run at 28/1 when positioned towards the rear a little bit more understandable.

    That’s not to say that his last run was fine. It wasn’t, and Derham admitted this in his OLGB update with Ella McNeill on X, but his best runs over the last two years have come when he was positioned prominently.

    At Cheltenham in October, he beat Dodger Long and Bottler’secret quite comfortably. The latter has let the form down since, but Dodger Long ran a big race behind the exciting Anzadam at Fairyhouse in November.

    Furthermore, when looking at last season, his second to Kalif Du Berlais in the Adonis sticks out like a sore thumb. The winner is now rated 152 over fences and the third, Captain Marvellous, looked smart when winning at Warwick at the start of the season before sadly suffering a fatal injury.

    He has a bit to prove based on his last two runs, but I’m not willing to give up on him already. He was a half-decent Flat horse who has won on soft ground over hurdles, and he has the scope to improve from his official rating of 132.

    4:10 Newbury – Lord Of Thunder @ 10/3 with William Hill – 2pt Win

    Lord Of Thunder has to start winning over fences soon, and I’m hoping Saturday is when he starts doing so.

    Joe Tizzard hasn’t hidden what he thinks about this horse. He highlighted him as a novice chaser to follow at the start of the season, and he’s been campaigned fairly conservatively so far.

    He fell on chase debut at Cheltenham on good ground before a fine run at Exeter in December behind Lowry’s Bar, a Grade 2 runner-up subsequently.

    On his last start, he ran a really big race in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase behind Handstands who has gone on to win the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase subsequently.

    He didn’t even finish a distant second either; he travelled well around the home turn when a few were off the bridle, he jumped soundly, and he stayed on.

    Handstands probably had a bit more tactical speed on the day, but his effort was eye-catching, and this step up to three miles should suit.

    His only dives into handicaps have occurred this season, and excuses can be made about his first two outings (fell and potentially needed the run), so he is thoroughly unexposed.

    Admittedly, Herakles Westwood was good at Windsor last month, and Warren Greatrex is thinking of the National Hunt Chase for him.

    He’s a big danger, but here’s how I see both contenders. Because he’s a rapid improver in the handicap, we (as punters) are slightly taking it on trust that Herakles Westwood can continue to win off this new handicap mark.

    With Lord Of Thunder, there’s no need to have that element of chance. To my eye, he has confirmed form that suggests he’s better than his current mark of 129, and if I’m wrong, I’m wrong.

  • Dublin Racing Festival Day 2 | Duty calls

    Dublin Racing Festival Day 2 | Duty calls

    Yesterday didn’t go to plan at all, but we’re back to hopefully find a few winners on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival.

    Yes, yesterday’s selections didn’t go as planned, but it was fun to sit back and appreciate Galopin Des Champs in all his glory.

    What a horse. What a performance. What a legend.

    Anyway, let’s roll.

    Dublin Racing Festival Day 2 Selections

    2:25 Musselburgh – Cadell @ 13/2 with William Hill (4 places) – 1pt EW

    Starting at Musselburgh, the Edinburgh National is a race that Lucinda Russell tends to target as she’s won two of the last four renewals.

    This year, Cadell is her main contender, and there’s a fine case to make for him.

    He’s relatively unexposed having bolted up at Wetherby on good ground in November when beating Farnoge (rated 132 over hurdles).

    He went on to run a good race in the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase in December and the race is working out well.

    The winner, Handstands, has won a Grade 1 and 2 since, and he has really thrown himself into the Cheltenham Festival picture having beaten Jango Baie on Saturday.

    A mark of 132 looks workable and there’s no guarantee he’s shown his true cards just yet.

    2:45 Leopardstown – Monbeg Park @ 8/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    A switch to handicaps could be the making of Monbeg Park and he is one of two plays in the 2m5f handicap chase.

    He was a horse to follow of mine for the 2023/24 season, but his campaign was ultimately disappointing. However, there is some form to cling into.

    On chase debut, he finished fourth to Il Etait Temps, a subsequent three-time Grade 1 novice chase winner, and he then won comfortably at Wexford in July 2024.

    He’s turned into a more consistent horse this season and he has run into some nice horses so far, notably Gorgeous Tom (beaten by a length in a Grade 1 last time out) and Jordans (second to Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase).

    A mark of 138 is on the high side, but Tiernan Power Roche’s 5lb claim is useful and he has a chance in the conditions.

    2:45 Leopardstown – Riaan @ 16/1 General (5 places) – 1pts EW

    Riaan finished second in this race last year off a 4lb higher mark, so he has a chance to go one place better this year.

    12 months ago, he travelled like the second-best horse into the race and he ran into Heart Wood who was rated 136 at the time. Heart Wood has a rating of 159 now having finished fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas.

    Furthermore, the third, James Du Berlais, nearly won the Topham two starts later. James Du Berlais runs in this race again and is 7lbs wrong at the weights with Riaan yet he is much shorter in the betting.

    When looking back on his run in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old by Diamond Boy was travelling very well before almost falling at the fourth-last.

    Without that mistake, who knows where he would have finished, but at the time, he was going well.

    With his rating and his run in this race last year, he has to have a chance here.

    3:50 Leopardstown – Relieved Of Duties @ 14/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

    Bit of a typical play here, but Relieved Of Duties is making his handicap debut having run into a potential (and I stress the word ‘potential’) Supreme winner on his last start.

    The six-year-old by Sholokhov had a tough time of things last time out. It was a slow pace, which didn’t suit, and he had a rough route through before the final hurdle.

    So, considering that was a decent Grade 2, he ran well in the circumstances.

    The handicapper has given Relieved Of Duties an opening mark of 134 which gives him a chance of winning, especially when you consider that he bolted up at Cork on December 13th.

    That day at Cork saw him clock a three-second quicker time than the handicap hurdle won by Robbies Rock over the same course and distance. Robbies Rock, rated 105 at the time, carried 13lbs less and was driven out compared to Relieved Of Duties, so that seems like a good marker to base off.

    Robbies Rock also finished fourth in a Listed handicap hurdle at Limerick on his next start.

    Furthermore, Relieved Of Duties beat Magic McColgan at Cork who went on to win a Punchestown handicap hurdle despite making a big mistake at the final hurdle.

    I’ll chance the unexposed novice dropping into handicap company.