Saturday's Racing (Inc Scoop6)

[BillyHills]

Scoop6 – Saturday December 12^th

 

Yet again there was no winner of the Tote Scoop6 last week so we have an opening Win Fund of £414,296. It is predicted that the pot will rise to a staggering £1.25 Million for this week’s bet and wouldn’t that be a nice early Christmas present for someone.

The action comes from three tracks, the feature race is the Caspian Caviar Chase at Cheltenham and we also have jumps from Doncaster and AW racing from Southwell.

 

Leg 1: 1.05 Southwell

We start off with a Class 2 handicap on the AW and we have a dozen runners lining up including last years winner Pearl Nation. He comes back after a break and should go well despite top weight. I like the Elsworth runner Justice Well, he made his AW debut at Kempton recently and was only beaten a head by Chookie Royale. Highland Colori has been steadily dropping down the weights and is respected along with last time out winner Realize.

Selection: Justice Well 7/1 Bet365 (Pearl Nation)

 

Leg 2: 1.15 Cheltenham

Thirteen runners line up for this 2m handicap chase and owner JP McManus could have the key here with one of his two runners Eastlake or Bold Henry. The former is trained by Jonjo O’Neill and after two recent runs he should be spot on now to do himself justice. Retained jockey Barry Geraghty takes the ride. Bold Henry is from the Philip Hobbs yard and stable jockey Richard Johnson gets the leg up on this one, he needs to jump better but certainly has the ability. Workbench is running for the in form Skelton team and should be on the shortlist along with the very consistent Astracad who is trained locally by Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Selection: Eastlake 6/1 Skybet (Astracad)

 

 

Leg 3: 1.40 Southwell

A very competitive 5f sprint here and we have another former winner in the field. Royal Bajan caused a 33/1 shock last year but is now much higher in the weights. Been out of form on the turf so should appreciate a return to Southwell. Come On Dave is my idea of the winner; he won at Chelmsford in March off a similar mark and ran ok last time behind Medicean Man.

Of the others Shipyard is interesting for Mick Appleby and Even Stevens is drawn well in the one box.

Selection: Come On Dave 12/1 Paddy Power (Shipyard)

 

Leg 4: 1.50 Cheltenham: Caspian Caviar Gold Cup

The big betting handicap of the weekend and a wide-open affair. Half a dozen of these can be fancied and the likes of Buywise, Irish Cavalier, Champagne West, Annacotty and Village Vic will all have their supporters. My two against the field however are Little Jon from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and the course specialist Johns Spirit. I just prefer Little Jon as I think he’s a progressive sort who has not stopped improving and has a lovely low weight for a big handicap in soft ground. Johns Spirit won the Paddy Power here and is returning to handicaps after talking on Graded company all last season.

Selection: Little Jon 10/1 Betfred (Johns Spirit)

 

Leg 5: 3.15 Doncaster

Our only trip to Doncaster and surprisingly we have fairly decent ground up here. Qewy will appreciate the conditions and a return to hurdles after two defeats over fences. Very classy sort who was 5^th to Douvan in the Supreme don’t forget. Top weight is Aristo Du Plessis who has won five out of his last six starts, he’s gone up 20lbs in three races and this is a big ask. Sgt Reckless is a top class on his day and reverts to hurdles after making plenty of jumping errors last time at Ascot and this might be a prep race for something back over fences at Christmas.

Selection: Dewy 4/1  Bet365 (Sgt Reckless)

 

Leg 6: 3.35 Cheltenham

The final race is a mares hurdle and one of the favourites is the Nicky Henderson trained Broxbourne. She won at Aintree on her seasonal debut by 5 lengths and has only been raise d5lbs by the handicapper. She’s only had six starts and is obviously improving. The top weight The Govaness actually beat Broxbourne here last April and meets on similar terms. She has had a recent run at Haydock and should now be ready to resume winning ways. Blue Buttons is another to add to the shortlist for Harry Fry while Rons Dream, Stoneham and Lily Waugh were all last-time out winners.

Selection: The Govaness 5/1 William Hill (Broxbourne)

 

 

[chris34]

11.55 Southwell

Amazing Blue Sky has drifted to a huge looking price with Singzak being backed recently. Blue Sky travelled strongly on his return to this surface last time out, beating Teenage Dream. Up 2f today but is just as capable over this trip and only 4lb higher today very well handicapped on his very best form however worth noting struggled off this mark recently but still should go well in this field.

 

1pt win Amazing Blue Sky 8/1 Labrokes

 

1.05 Southwell

A much stronger looking renewal than last years, Pearl Nation won this last year off a 16lb lower mark but comes here on the back of a break. Has won again around here since that win and that one was off 6lb lower.

Dubai Hills was the winner of this race in 2013 and was a useful sort previously on this surface winning off 93 runs off 90 today. Struggled recently for this yard but a return to this surface should see him go well again especially having had a prep run this year for this contest unlike last year. 7 wins 1 placed effort from 10 runs around here!

 

1pt e/w Dubai Hills 12/1 boyles

 

1.40 Southwell

Even Stevens would be dangerous to cross out in a wide open event, perhaps not the best drawn in stall 1 but has more than enough speed to get to the front and get away from the rail.

He hasn’t won for a longtime now but a huge step back in the right direction on penultimate start over CD when 2^nd behind Keep It Dark over CD off this mark, easily to forgive latest run at Chelmsford unable to get to the front from a wide draw. He is 4lb below his last winning mark around here and 8lb below last win. 7 wins 3 placed efforts from 14 starts around here.

 

1pt win Even Stevens 11/1 coral

 

2.15 Southwell

Incurs Four Faults was a good winner over CD last time out having been heavily backed, he had been threatening to win before that. Handicapper has been rather lenient with just a 3lb rise, front 3 pulled well clear. He has also won off a 5lb higher mark in the past so remains well handicapped. Could easily back that effort up with the ability to handle this surface.

 

2pt win Incurs Four Faults 7/2 bet365

 

6.45 Wolverhampton

Compton Prince comes from a yard in hot form recently, they had been badly out of sorts for well over a year and as a result many of them have become well handicapped which is the case again here. Last won off a mark of 58 runs off 50 today although effectively 51 due to running 1lb out of the handicap. Good second last time out when being prominent theres a severe lack of pace in this race which could well suit him today from a decent draw in stall 5.

 

2pt win Compton Prince 6/1 bet365

 

7.15 Wolverhampton

This looks a pretty weak affair and Milton Bradley runs another in this and Burauq is perhaps one of those that had kicked started his good run off form winning his 2^nd race on the bounce, clearly progressing at present and a 3lb rise again looks lenient again. Wide draw not ideal but his run style should overcome that and should be run to suit with China Excel and Gower Princess likely to tow this lot along nicely.

 

3pt win Burauq 15/8 bet365