National Hunt Selections - 2016/17

[arsenalfh]

Going to throw my selections up here so I can link my write ups on Twitter and so on. Fingers crossed for a profitable season. 

[arsenalfh]

I'm very surprised My Tent Or Yours is not well odds on here given the poor opposition. He proved he retains ability when coming off a massive absence to finish 2nd in last years Champion Hurdle and goes incredibly well fresh. He also won the Betfair Hurdle on ground the times suggested was much more testing that the soft description advertised alleviating concerns about the ground. Old Guard is coming back hurdling after a disappointing time novice chasing while Ch'tibello has to find the guts of 20lbs to match the favourites form and Melodic Rendezvous is just not the same horse.

1.50 Haydock - My Tent Or Yours @ 11/10 Bet365

Yala Enki is a solid enough favourite in these conditions after being dropped a few pounds and seems to go well off a break. However the price looks about right now and I'm keen to take on the next few in the market. Two Taffs needs to step up, Westren Warrior seems to have stalled in his development and the ground is too testing for Caid Du Berlais. The one that sticks out is the lightly raced Western Cape, an 85k purchase with just 5 runs over hurdles. He was only beaten a neck on his reappearance and winner of that has franked the form and the move to these Fixed Brush obstacles which are based on the French style hurdles could bring more improvement for this former pointer.

2.25 Haydock - Western Cape @ 18/1 Betway

Cue Card was disappointing in the Charlie Hall and although he should come on for that I just don't think he's the same horse that ran to an RPR of 180 three times last year. He didn't run with the same zest this time and was fading at the finish unlike when winning pretty comfortably last year. Coneygree is coming back from a bad injury and again can be taken on as he may not be the same. Seeyouatmidnight is on the up but has to improve a lot and you have to be slightly dubious of the form of his last run. Has potential but a short price to make the considerable step up here. I like old boy Silviniaco Conti at the prices. He needs the run and improved a lot from his reappearance last year in this race. I expect him to come on significantly from that and he has a really good record around Haydock posting RPRs of 168, 175, 169 and 173. He's a lot harder to predict these days but he showed at Ascot last year that he still has bundles of ability and if he can post a rating somewhere within those scores he should be bang there with a fair chance in my opinion of Cue Card and Coneygree not running to there best.

3.00 Haydock (Betfair Chase) - Silviniaco Conti @ 8/1 Bet365

Disappointing turn out for such a big pot over at Ascot where Vaniteux tops the betting. He's a worthy favourite with the Arkle where he was set to finish 2nd before unseating working out well. He does have an absence to overcome and Some Buckle with fitness on side looks the value play. His jumping hasn't been the best and he blundered badly when going really well last time at Aintree but before that his jumping was excellent and looked much improved. It was no surprise to see him jump so well up to that point after moving to Tom George who is such a good trainer of a chaser and I'm willing to give him another chance as he looks well handicapped off 139.

3.15 Ascot - Some Buckle @ 6/1 Betfair