Well, the Chepstow Jump Season Opener is upon us which is a phrase diehard fans have wanted to hear all summer.
As well as the Welsh action over obstacles, Newmarket has a Group 1 card to look forward to, so there’s something for everyone today.
Just to review last weekend, the Sunday of the Arc meeting saw us land a winning NAP with Friendly Soul as well as the Foret victor with Ramatuelle.
✅ RAMATUELLE wins at 3/1!
Good end to the weekend with a winning 17/2 NAP in the Opera and a 3/1 success in the Foret.
Turned into a good weekend for @BestOfBetsUK & @OFLHracing.#HorseRacing #QPAT
pic.twitter.com/p8NbEVsPfx https://t.co/rw6HLhmhwI
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) October 6, 2024
Because of these winners, we sit in profit at 8.3pts for the month with an ROI of +59%.
So, let’s roll on.
1:47 Newmarket – Mr Lightside @ 14/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW
Newmarket’s card looks tricky, but Mr Lightside is a horse who can win the Group 3 Conrwallis Stakes.
His last run wasn’t up to scratch, but his form this season is solid from some of the top festivals.
Before he ran at York or Goodwood, he beat Hallasan at Nottingham when giving six pounds away which is good form as Hallasan beat Camille Pissarro at Doncaster before Camille Pissarro won last weekend’s Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Smart performance!
Mr Lightside is much the best in the Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie Novice Stakes for @Ali_rawlinson and the @MickApplebyUK team 👏 pic.twitter.com/oyedXVVmMZ
— Nottingham Racecourse (@NottsRacecourse) July 6, 2024
After that, Mr Lightside put in a big effort to finish second to Big Mojo and Aesterius in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes with Celandine, the fourth, going on to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes.
If he repeats that form today, he has a strong chance.
3:15 Chepstow – Ryan’s Rocket @ 9/4 with BetVictor – 2pt Win
No Teeshan and Brechin Castle in this year’s Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle has put a cloud over the feature race, but after some looking, Ryan’s Rocket could be too good here.
The point-to-point winner finished second on his hurdles debut to the Ben Pauling-trained Fiercely Proud which looks like good form.
The winner was a close third and second to Jeriko Du Reponet and Lump Sum respectively in two separate Grade 2 subsequently, while both the third (Tregele) and fourth (Geezer Rockstar) have won since.
"This has been a long-term plan… if he gets beat, it's @JohnnyBurke2's fault!"
Hopes are high for Ryan's Rocket ahead of tomorrow's Persian War at @Chepstow_Racing…
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 10, 2024
The six-year-old gelding won two novice hurdles subsequently, the first was after a three-month lay-off on uncertian soft ground. The second from that race, Manuelito, has won two novice hurdles since.
All of the form related to Ryan’s Rocket is working out nicely, and Fergal O’Brien has won this race twice before, one of those successes with Poetic Rhythm in 2017 who was making his seasonal reappearance.
4:25 Chepstow – Moon Hunter @ 16/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW
There’s a chance I am living too far in the past with Moon Hunter, but he’s a horse who goes well fresh and has a mark of 120 which is intriguing.
The seven-year-old by Pether’s Moon won on novice hurdle debut and ran his best race of last season on his seasonal debut, so today’s seasonal reappearance should be a positive.
He also finished a good second at Doncaster in novice hurdle in March 2023 when giving five pounds away to the winner, Henry’s Friend.
He has since won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase and two novice handicap chases, so the form looks good.
Collared on the line! Moon Hunter digs deep to get the better of Theatre Man in the @DoncasterRaces opener for @tjobrien12 and @HenryDalyRacing…pic.twitter.com/Q8ivmMpSKT
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) December 29, 2022
Furthermore, he beat Theatre Man in a novice hurdle in December 2022 who has a rating of 137 over fences thanks to form with Ginny’s Destiny and Inch House.
If he shows any of that form today, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
