Saturday Jan 9th Racing (Inc Scoop6)

[BillyHills]

Tote Scoop6 – Saturday January 9th

 

We have a rollover in the Tote Scoop6 this week after everyone was eliminated after four legs last Saturday. The Win Fund starts out at £255,026 with the ever-increasing Bonus Fund now standing at a whopping £704,518. It means one lucky winner could be in for a cool £1 Million prize to start the New Year off in the right way. The first step to the jackpot is to get six winners from this week’s action, which takes place at Chepstow and Kempton over jumps and we have one flat race from Lingfield. The feature race is the Coral Welsh National at 1.45.

 

Leg 1: 1.10 Chepstow

A 3-mile handicap hurdle on heavy ground to get the ball rolling. This will be tough and the winner for the last two years Awaywiththegreys attempts the hat-trick for local trainer Peter Bowen. Was only 7^th here on his seasonal debut and has obviously been aimed at this race. Moorlands Mist ran well here last time over C/D and was 5^th in this race off 4lbs higher a couple of years ago, he’s entitled to go close again. Sykes has been in cracking form for Philip Hobbs and won over C/D in November. He ran well again last time at Newbury and is the pick in a tricky handicap.

Selection: Sykes 11/4 Betfred (Moorlands Mist)

 

Leg 2: 1.45 Chepstow : Welsh Grand National

The big race of the day and hopefully the rain will stay away and we can get it on at the second time of asking. Loads of runners in with a chance here and my shortlist consists of Cogry, Return Spring, Mountainous and probably Bob Ford. Nigel Twiston-Davies saddles Cogry and he’s a promising chaser who should love the conditions. He was a good 4^th at Cheltenham last time and loos reasonably handicapped. Mountainous won this in 2013 but was pulled up last year. He has been brought along steadily this time and should run a decent race and has everything in his favour. Return Spring is a lively outsider if he can handle the ground, it is a worry but I think the horse is made for this race.

Selection: Cogry 8/1 William Hill (Return Spring)

 

Leg 3: 1.55 Lingfield

Our only venture on the AW and a 7f handicap to sort out. It’s pretty low key stuff and it’s fair to say that none of the runners are in much form at present. A tentative vote goes to The Happy Hammer. He has won over C/D and did manage to win another race last September at Chelmsford City. Another C/D winner is Pyroclastic trained by Jim Boyle, he is entered to run on Friday and was 3^rd last time out. It will be interesting if he takes his chance. Poppet Rocket hasn’t run for over 200 days but is an eye-catching runner for Brian Meehan and jockey Paul Mulrennan who has been going well.

Selection: The Happy Hammer 12/1  Ladbrokes (Poppet Rocket)

 

Leg 4: 2.35 Kempton

The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle is always a competitive affair but it doesn’t attract as many runners as it used to when it was run over two miles. Now days its over 2m5f and often goes to a young progressive type. We have two 5yo’s in the line up that fit the profile and we should concentrate on them. The first is Bivouac trained by Nicky Henderson, he won well at Huntingdon last time and could be well in on 141 and is a course winner. The danger is the Paul Nicholls horse Ibis De Rheu, not been at his bets since coming over from France and should be spot on after a decent seasonal reappearance at Newbury. The top one Brother Tedd is the class act in the race and will be thereabouts.

Selection: Bivouac 9/2 Paddy Power (Ibis De Rheu)

 

 

Leg 5: 3.10 Kempton

9 runners for this 3m handicap chase but one or two of them are entered at Chepstow as well so a tricky one to weigh up. Top weight Le Reve has been below par so far this season but this is his easiest assignment to date and could bounce back. Grandads Horse is beginning to look well handicapped again after a baron spell and he will enjoy the soft conditions while Philip Hobbs runs Kruzhlinin who hasn’t been seen since running over hurdles at Musselburgh back in February for Donald McCain so is a very interesting runner.

Selection: Grandads Horse 12/1 William Hill (Kruzhlinin)

 

Leg 6: 3.45 Kempton

The final leg is a two mile handicap hurdle and both Dormouse and Hollywood All Star come here chasing hat-tricks. Dormouse is an 11yo now and looks in the form of his life, two victories at Lingfield in heavy ground lately has put him up 10lbs and this is a lot different. Hollywood All Star is up 13lbs for wins at Bangor and Uttoxeter and takes a big step up in class. David Pipe has two runners and the pick has to be Stars Over The Sea who won here at Kempton in 2014 and often runs well on flat tracks. War Singer was second in this race last year and is entitled to go well again for trainer Johnny Farrelly.

Selection: Stars Over The Sea 7/1  Bet365  (War Singer)

 

 

[jonshell]

12:35 Chepstow MAXANISI has scope for more improvement now stepped up in trip. He looks a useful prospect and heavy ground will not be a problem to him.  Best price 9/4 Bet365