Market Rasen, Newcastle and Windsor will be broadcast live on ITV on Friday. GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out four best bets across those cards.
1.25 Market Rasen – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase
Those who have just turned ten often have a sprightly advantage on slightly older stages in these veterans’ races, but the form of the 11-year-old NUMITOR at Cheltenham was in a particularly strong contest of this nature last month and he could complete his hat-trick here.
He has been more or less the sole flag-bearer for Heather Main over jumps in the last few seasons, and has done so with immense credit, winning seven of his 20 races over fences. Only six times has he finished outside the first three, with his form since October seeing him reappear with renewed vigour.
His victory at Wincanton was solid form, but he improved on that with a gutsy success over 2m4½f at Cheltenham from two veterans who appear to still be well-treated by the handicapper. The grey is only up 4lb for that success, and despite the host of newcomers he faces in this generation here, this might not be as strong a race.
2.10 Newcastle – Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap
Once again, the strongest recent winning form is considered king here and that belongs to THE CALTONIAN. It may have been his first success in 14 starts, but he has largely been consistent in the meantime, placing on six occasions, three of which came on the all-weather.
The six-year-old has continued to progress on artificial surfaces, and was rated 8lb above his last winning mark when storming home from last to first over course and distance on New Year’s Day. The re-opposing runner-up has filled that same position against since.
A 5lb rise for that victory looks lenient enough with race fitness on his side, as he racked up a hat-trick of wins at this time last year. However, that success two weeks ago was at a level two classes higher than he had ever won at before, while he is also 10lb better off with current favourite Heathcliff for just a half-length to defat to him in August.
3.00 Windsor – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle
There remains the distinct possibility that Langer Dan finally comes back to himself, as he so often does from the turn of the year. As was the case when he trailed home last in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day, his price is massive if he gets anywhere near his rating of 160.
However, it is only 16 days since that underwhelming performance, and it feels unlikely he will suddenly jump forward quite that significantly, albeit he is difficult to predict at this juncture. Instead, IBERICO LORD could be the one in receipt of weight from all bar Langer Dan.
The seven-year-old won easily on his chase debut before falling when under pressure at Ascot on his second start over fences. He returns to hurdles here, but his Betfair Hurdle win last season lives long in the memory, as he won that cosily, giving L’Eau Du Sud 5lb.
Had the Henderson yard not been struggling ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, he would surely have shown up better in the Champion Hurdle and could easily have plenty more ability than his mark of 144 would suggest. The step up to 2m4f should be no issue whatsoever and neither of the two market principles set a high barrier to surpass.
3.35 Windsor – Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle
The five-year-old Kabral Du Mathan has every chance of developing into an even better horse than a rating of 139, but an 8lb rise for a defeat, even one in which he was 17 lengths clear of the third, does feel harsh for his Ascot performance. The race also set up well for him from midfield given how quickly they went upfront.
Secret Squirrel is respected, as he was up with the pace that day and was only two lengths down when falling at the last, but the pulled-up GO DANTE is now down to a seriously threatening mark having run well on his reappearance. That fifth-placed effort at Ffos Las preceded a mid-division finish on good ground in the Greatwood, while he was taken off his feet in the aforementioned Ascot race last time on good-to-soft.
They surely won’t go as quick again here, particularly on soft ground which Olly Murphy’s charge prefers. He is just 1lb above his winning rating in the Imperial Cup in March and looks overpriced. Cheekpieces, which were removed ahead of Ascot, go back on to hopefully help him focus better.
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