The bet365 Gold Cup, that’s the former Whitbread Gold Cup, remains one of my favourite big race handicaps of the jumps season and I am pleased to say that I have a good tipping record in the race. A quick, slick jumper who stays well is required as the fences come thick and fast on this right-handed track with an uphill finish.
I have already put up one horse in the race and that is Annsam each way at 16-1. I think Evan Williams’ talented gelding will be perfectly suited to this track given his tendency to jump right at several fences and I will be very disappointed if he does not run a big race. The 16-1 has long gone but the 10-1, six places, is still more than fair.
There is no doubt that Kitty’s Light is the best handicapped horse in the race (Sandown, tomorrow 2.15pm) because he escapes a penalty for his victory a week ago in the Coral Scottish Grand National. Christian Williams’ seven-year-old gelding is as tough as they come but it is asking a lot, even for him, to race for the best part of eight miles in as many days. He could well win but, once again, he won’t have my money on him at prices of no bigger than 7-2.
However, I do want to go in double-handed in the race and my second selection is Lydia Richards’ improving chaser CERTAINLY RED. He clocked up a hat trick of handicap chase wins before presumably being put away in early February with this race in mind. Since then, he has had a prep race over hurdles, almost certainly to protect his handicap mark for this £90,000-plus pot. He has winning course from too, which is a major plus.
I always like to have a talented claimer on board in these big handicaps and Caoilin Quinn, who gets a 5 lbs allowance, ticks that box. Certainly Red is no youngster at nine years old but he has taken his form to a new level this season and there may still be more to come. Back him each way at 12-1 with Paddy Power or Betfair, both paying six places.
I had been tempted to put up Tom Lacey’s eight-year-old gelding Tea Clipper for this race. He has run plenty of big races over the years in big-field handicaps and certainly deserves a change of luck.
In late November, Lacey put his horse away for the best part of four months in order to keep him fresh for a spring campaign, starting with the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The horse’s absence from the track was prompted by his love of fast ground but shortly before the Festival the heavens opened. On soft ground, Tea Clipper did well enough to finish sixth in a race in which the form has since been franked in spades by the first and second home, Corach Rambler and Fastorslow.
For a time this week, it looked as though Tea Clipper would finally get his preferred fast ground but heavy rain in the Esher area last night has eased the going once again and so I am going to pass on him, especially as he is not guaranteed to stay this trip.
Anyway, Anssam and Certainly Red will be my final two wagers for this jumps season, which I am pleased to say has been a very profitable one for those who have followed all of my tips. Next week I will be switching to the flat and, over the next seven days, I intend to scrutinise another favourite race of mine, the tote Chester Cup.
2022-3 jumps season running total + 58.1 points on all tips.
Pending bets:
1 point each way Annsam at 16-1 in the bet365 Gold Cup, paying 1/4 odds, four places.
1 point each way Certainly Red at 12-1 in the bet365 Gold Cup, paying 1/5 odds, six places.
Settled bets:
1 point each way Hill Sixteen in the Becher Chase at 11-1, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced (7th). – 2 points.
1 point each way Hill Sixteen in the Becher Chase at 11-1, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced (7th). – 2 points.
2 points win Annsam at 8-1 for the Howden Silver Cup. Cancelled meeting. Stake returned.
1 point each way Eldorado Allen at 20-1 in the King George VI Chase, paying 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced (4th). – 2 points.
1 point each way The Big Breakaway in 20-1 for the Welsh Grand National at 20-1, paying 1/5 odds, five places. 2nd. + 3 points.
1 point each way The Big Dog at 12-1 in the Welsh Grand National, paying 1/4 odds, four places. 3rd. + 2 points.
1 point each way Grumpy Charley at 12-1 in the Newbury 2.25pm paying 1/5 odds, five places. 1st + 16.4 points.
2 points win Midnight River at 5-1 for the Cheltenham 1.55pm, with Skybet. 1st. + 10 points.
1 point each way Coconut Splash at 12-1 in the Cheltenham 1.55 on Sunday, with William Hill, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced (P). – 2 points.
1 point each way Sir Ivan at 20-1 in the Sandown 3pm tomorrow, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lord du Mesnil at 8-1 in the Warwick 3pm race, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dubrovnik Harry at 8-1 in the Kempton 2.40pm race, paying 1/5th odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mister Coffey at 15/2 for the Doncaster 3.15pm, 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Back On The Lash at 7/1 for the Cheltenham 12.40pm, 1/5 odds, five places. 1st. + 8.4 points
1 point each way Empire Steel at 12-1 in the Sandown 3.30pm, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Small Present at 25-1 for the Grand National Trial (Haydock 2.40pm) paying 1/4 odds, four places. Unplaced – 2 points.
1 point each way Homme Public at 9-1 for Ascot 3pm, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Party Business at 20-1 NRNB for the Pertemps Network Hurdle Final, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Benson at 16-1 in the Morebattle Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 1st. + 19.2 points.
1 point each way Monviel at 17/2 for the Imperial Cup, paying 1/5th odds, six places. 5th. + 0.5 points.
1 point each way Saint Segal at 20-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual, paying 1/5th odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake Returned.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 20-1 NRNB for the Plate Handicap Chase, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Non Runner. Stake Returned.
1 point each way Doctor Bravo at 22-1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Nassalam at 20-1 NRNB for the Ultima Handicap Chases, paying 1/5th odds, five places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way I Like To Move It at 20-1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, 1/5 odds, three places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Metamorpheus at 16-1 NRNB for the Boodles Juveniles Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 6th. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mister Coffey at 25-1 for the National Hunt Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three places. 3rd. + 4 points.
1 point each way Camprond at 20-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 3rd. + 3 points.
1 point each way Elixir de Nutz at 14-1 for the Grand Annual Chase, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way French Dynamite at 14-1 NRNB for the Ryanair Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dashel Drasher at 28-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, four places. 3rd. + 4.6 points.
1 point each way Gin Coco at 14-1 NRNB for the County Hurdle, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Hewick at 20-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, three places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Royal Pagaille at 50-1 NRNB for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, three places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Magic Daze at 11-1 for the Mares Chase, paying 1/5th odds, three place. Refused to race. – 2 points.
1 point each way Might I at 10-1 NRNB for the Martin Pipe Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 4th. + 1 point.
1 point each way Iroko at 9-1 for the Martin Pipe Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 1st. + 10.8 points.
1 point each way The Galloping Bear at 14-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/4 odds, four places. P. – 2 points.
1 point each way Notachance at 33-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, five places. 3rd. +5.6 points.
1 point each way Secret Reprieve at 10-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, five places. P. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dans Le Vent at 33-1 for the Uttoxeter 3.35pm, 1/5th odds, three places. U. – 2 points.
1 point each way Panda Boy at 16-1 in the Irish Grand National, 1/4 odds, four places. 5th. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gesskille at 16-1 in the Topham Chase, paying 1/4 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Corach Rambler at 20-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/4 odds, four places. 1st . + 25 points.
1 point each way Lifetime Ambition at 33-1in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places. U. – 2 points.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 20-1in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places. Unpalced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Francky Du Berlais at 100-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Your Own Story at 8-1in the Scottish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, six places. 6th + 0.6 points.
1 point each way Mighty Thunder at 20-1 in the Scottish Grand National,paying 1/5th odds, six places. UR. – 2 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 13 of the past 14 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the profit of has been just over 469 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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