The watchful eye of Matty Sutcliffe has been trained on this weekend’s racing. he has four value selections for you to follow, including a rare 33/1 shot on a Saturday for Nicky Henderson…
1:50 Kempton – Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Bhaloo 33/1 0.5pt EW 2 places
Sageburg gelding BHALOO has 10lbs to find with the next lowest rated novice in here, but if he was coming here on the back of his chase debut success then I don’t think he’d be such a big price in this small field.
He hated the three miles on soft ground at Windsor having jumped right throughout, and he never travelled around Cheltenham back over timber which is always an excusable feat for these types who prefer a flat track.
He posted a promising RPR of 136 at Ascot going right handed on chase debut giving 7lbs to the second, and he was a C&D winner here over hurdles on good ground in April, pulling four lengths clear of one who’s progressed well this season. All of his best form has come either right handed or a at/galloping track, he’s 2/2 in elds of six or less, and if getting in a rhythm out in front then he’s entitled to spring something of a surprise now granted more favourable conditions.
2:10 Newcastle – Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Bretney 25/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
I’m happy with our ante-post position on O’Connell at 7/1, who warrants favouritism at this stage but there is still a nagging doubt about him going left handed, and toward the rear end of the market I’m keen to chance BRETNEY, who on a going day, can put all of these to the sword from the front.
He’s a strange type as he has a tendency to pull up or simply bomb out in his races, but his record second time up after a break over fences reads 31221, and his record when swapping cheek-pieces for blinkers reads 11. He’s a proven performer over marathon trips, winning the North Wales National over 3m5f at Bangor, the Highland National over 3m6f at Perth, more recently winning the Scottish Borders’ National over this trip of 4m1f at Kelso. He has to bounce back from pulling at Musselburgh last time out, but if the reapplication of blinkers catch him on a going day then he’s entitled to show up well with Alice Stevens taking off a handy 3lbs, putting him only 3lbs above his last winning mark which came in a ten length route at Kelso.
2:32 Chepstow – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Gold In The Rivers 11/1 1pt WIN
David Pipe has won this twice with six-year-olds in recent seasons, including with Thanksforthehelp on his first start after a wind op, and if a wind op, along with a tongue tie, can help GOLD IN THE RIVERS see his race out better than this Pertemps entered son of Walk In The Park could show up well on his third start for the yard.
He was a £220,000 buy for Gordon Elliott in 2022, and looked potentially smart when bolting up 15 lengths in a Limerick Maiden Hurdle this time last year. He backed that up with a four length second to the 130r 8/11F Born Braver, who had some good back form having been second to some smart types in Argento Boy and Kinturk Kalanisi.
They’d have to be trying with him to ensure a place in the Pertemps should his entry be the plan to take up, and this unexposed £40,000 buy brings some considerable potential to the table.
3:55 Newcastle – Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130) – Salsada 5/1 2pt WIN
Several of these have something to prove either stepping up in class or returning from layoffs, but SALSADA will find this a lot easier than when fourth of sixth in a G2 Mares contest at Doncaster, where she was still in and around the likes of Jetara, Kateira and Wyenot two out, before evidently failing to stay the three mile trip.
Prior to that, she won a pair of Sedgefield C4’s latterly very gamely off top weight, giving 16lbs to the well backed runner up (10/11F). The second backed that effort next time out, the third won next time out, and the sixth also won well next time out. She drops back to two miles here which shouldn’t be a hindrance, given she was beaten only a short head by Florida Dreams over two miles in October, who has ran creditably in three much stronger races since including a fifth in the Greatwood and a five-length seventh in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.
Some of her other form at two miles includes a four length third to Brentford Hope at Haydock in C2 company, and most notably a six length second to Epatante in the G2 Yorkshire Rose Mares Hurdle on good ground.
Craig Nichol returns to the saddle who was on board for that pair of Sedgefield contests, and this strong travelling mare will be favoured by what looks to be a well run contest now dropping back in grade.
