The Breeders’ Cup kicked off a good weekend of racing action last night and before they regain the baton later today, eyes will turn to Charlie Hall Chase Day at Wetherby alongside an intriguing card at Ascot.
There are a few horses that I want to be on the side of today, so let’s dive straight in.
1:15 Wetherby – Eaton Collina @ 6/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
For anyone who watched the latest Only Fools Love Horses video, you may have a nice ante-post docket for Eaton Collina at 10/1 who is now a few points shorter.
Kerry Lee’s eight-year-old won twice as a novice chaser in early 2023, one of which was a 20-length demolition at Ascot in April and the other occurred at Chepstow in February; he beat Triple Trade, Joe Tizzard’s progressive seven-year-old that has improved 16 pounds since the run, on latter of those victories, so the form looks good.
Eaton Collina puts in a decent round of jumping to win at @Ascot for Richard Patrick and @beaubai.
Gamaret took a nasty fall earlier in the race – we'll update when we have any further news. pic.twitter.com/NR4ReWm0mF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 2, 2023
Although he was beaten on seasonal reappearance in 2022 and 2021, Lee has had her horses fit and firing for their first runs this season, notably with Nemean Lion in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and Kraqueline at Wincanton on October 29th.
If this is the case, Eaton Collina looks like a typical improving type and hopefully, his mark of 118 is still workable.
2:05 Ascot – Saint Segal @ 9/2 with BetVictor – 1pt Win
The first of my selections from Ascot comes in a competitive contest over two miles, and after much deliberation, Saint Segal is the one that I’ve fallen on.
Firstly, I appreciate the notion that horses trained by Jane Williams tend to come on for their first run of the season – as shown with this horse last season – but the market is positive for his chances and he’s had plenty of time to get ready for today.
The five-year-old by Saint Des Saints relished fences last season with two wins and a staying-on second to his name.
Nice performance! Saint Segal makes it two from two over fences in good style for David Noonan and @NandJ_WilliamsR at @HerefordRaces… pic.twitter.com/IS7YZFn5K4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 4, 2023
His Hereford success in early January took place on soft ground, suggesting today’s conditions will suit him well, and he even put up a good performance on quick ground at Doncaster 23 days later, showing he has a big engine.
Reading comments from Williams in James Stevens’ 2023/24 Horses To Follow (South West Edition), connections love this horse at home and a rating of 137 looks lenient.
2023/24 Horses To Follow
(South West edition)🗣️ 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦
🗣️ 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮
12 stable visits, plenty of hidden gems and completely free to read! Enjoy.
RTs Appreciated!
— James Stevens (@JamesStevens180) October 12, 2023
With a few in here potentially at the top of their handicap mark or with bigger targets down the line, today could be the day to catch Saint Segal on his first run after a wind-op.
2:25 Wetherby – Thyme Hill @ 2/1 with Betvictor – 2pt Win
The Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle has just six options to pick from this year, and the favourite Thyme Hill looks like the obvious one for a good reason.
Although last season didn’t go to plan over fences, the nine-year-old still retained his ability on the track when bolting up at Exeter on his chasing debut before his commanding display in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day.
👀 Thyme Hill – a first G1 win over fences
The Stayers' Hurdle runner-up takes a huge step forward with the addition of cheekpieces to land the @Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase @kemptonparkrace for @PJHobbs1 & Tom O'Brien pic.twitter.com/selWIcAlaS
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2022
His two losses over fences came when the ground was too quick at Newbury in November and when never firing during the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Today, he comes into the race on the back of a 189-day break, something he’s not averse to doing as he won on seasonal reappearance in 2022, 2020, and 2019 as well as his win in the 2021 Grade 1 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree following a 112-day break.
♥️ Thyme Hill is all heart!
Success for Tom O'Brien & @PJHobbs1 as Thyme Hill lands the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle in a thrilling battle with Roksana at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/HmrbvcyiKc
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 10, 2021
With his good record on soft and heavy ground – as shown by his second to Paisley Park in the 2020 Long Walk Hurdle on heavy and second to Flooring Porter in the 2022 Stayers’ Hurdle on soft – a lot is seemingly in his favour today.
2:40 Ascot – Ten Lengths Tom @ 5/1 General – 1pt EW
Betting in novice hurdles in October is risky business at the best of times, let alone when the ground is testing, but there’s plenty to like about the profile of Ten Lengths Tom for the Tom Lacey yard.
The four-year-old ran in two bumpers last season, the first of which occurred at Sandown when sandwiched by a pair of Paul Nicholls runners on good to soft ground.
👀 Inthewaterside – deeply impressive
Doubles for @PFNicholls & @adrianheskin as €90,000 purchase Inthewaterside readily delivers in the finale at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/N8q5ovSwcU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 4, 2023
The exciting Inthewaterside won the race, a horse who won on hurdling debut at Aintree earlier this week, with the well-regarded Wrappedupinmay eight lengths behind in third.
The Mount Nelson gelding then went to Warwick for his next start and bolted up by five-and-a-half lengths having travelled cooly into the race under Stan Sheppard before he was asked to quicken away with just over a furlong ago.
Ten Lengths Tom @StanSheppard9 @tflacey @WarwickRaces 🐎 pic.twitter.com/qIhkZGZTrW
— Glenn Fitzpatrick (@Crazyg07231486) March 12, 2023
He showed an impressive turn of foot over two miles that day in what was deplorable conditions at Warwick, suggesting today’s deep ground at Ascot should cause no issues.
The two horses ahead of him in the market – Jango Baie and Tellherthename – come from the point-to-point scene, so with the chance that both of them may need further in time after today’s hurdling debut, Ten Lengths Tom looks like a solid contender.
3:15 Ascot – Altobelli @ 4/1 with William Hill – 2pt Win
The form of Harry Fry’s yard over the last few weeks makes for tough reading, though that can hopefully change with Altobelli in the 3:15 at Ascot.
The five-year-old by Maxios was well-spoken of by connections last season as a novice hurdler to follow and his 25-length victory at Carlisle certainly showed his booming ability.
A raw talent!
Altobelli looks a little green but is good enough to make a winning start over hurdles at @FfosLasRC for @HarryFryRacing1 and @Bryan_Carver_… pic.twitter.com/no1fXDuarc
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 22, 2022
Things didn’t go his way when sent to the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April, though I’m happy to forgive him as it was his first outing in a Grade 1 on ever-quickening Aintree ground.
Although Fry may have one eye on the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle over course and distance in December, his form of beating Uncle Bert (a two-time hurdles winner since) and Ginny’s Destiny (rated 135 over hurdles) last season is hard to ignore.
Connections think Altobelli is a Graded horse in the making, so off his current mark of 131 in conditions that should suit, hopefully he is bang on to take home this £60,000 contest.
