BENSON did this column a massive favour a year ago when landing the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle after being put up at 16-1 (he went off at a starting price of 11/1). In truth, he faces a stiffer task in the same race tomorrow because he is both one year older and running off the top weight of 12 stone in a fiercely-completive 18-runner handicap.
However, with more rain forecast between now and the off, along with his trainer Sandy Thomson in fine form (six winners from his last 15 runners for a 40 per cent strike rate over the past 14 days), I am happy to stay loyal to this battle-hardened warrior on his 26th visit to the racetrack.
Benson, a nine-year-old grey gelding, is arguably a better horse over two and a half miles rather than the two mile distance of tomorrow’s contest at Kelso (2.50 p.m.). However, with a likely fast-run race and with fairly soft ground to slow up the speedier types, I expect jockey Ryan Mania to hold him up again near the back of the field before picking off rivals in the last quarter of a mile. Back him 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365, paying six places.
The forecast favourite Under Control looks an improver for the J.P. McManus/Nicky Henderson owner/trainer combination but he is far too short in the betting for me at around 7-2 and, if the ground came up very soft he might not even run because he has targets at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival too.
I will, however, go into the race double handed because I am also keen to back course and distance specialist CRACKING RHAPSODY, who was first and second at this track in his last two runs, both in small-field handicaps. I think this lightly-raced five-year-old gelding will be better suited to the hurly-burly of a bigger field and he can outrun his odds.
The horse’s trainer Ewan Whillans failed by only a neck to land last weekend’s Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase with Prince Des Fichaux and he could well go one better in this weekend’s big handicap. Back Cracking Rhapsody 1 point each way at 16-1, once again with bet365, paying six places.
Shropshire-based Henry Daly is another in-form trainer with four winners from his last 17 runners for a strike rate of 24 per cent over the past fortnight. He saddles FORTESCUE in the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Newbury 1.20 p.m.).
With just eight rivals to beat and with Harry Cobden booked for the ride, he seems generously priced at 6-1 with most bookies, all paying three place. Once again, 1 point each way is the suggestion. Forgive him his poor run at Sandown a month ago when the ground was far too quick for him as he thrives on soft, or even heavy, ground.
Secret Reprieve, a former Coral Welsh Grand National winner, is interesting off a mark of just 130 for his shrewd handler, Evan Williams, but he might need the race after a break from the racetrack of nearly a year. However, if he is back to his anything like his best, he will land a decent race this season on soft ground.
I had expected to put up Grandeur D’Ame in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Newbury, 1.55 p.m.) but that was before Alan King’s eight-year-old gelding halved in price from 8-1 to 4-1 in the space of the past 48 hours. Since he unseated his rider at the very first fence last time out at Cheltenham, he is not one to back at short odds.
Instead, I would rather take a chance on a horse that has been very disappointing in four runs this season: Warren Greatrex’s BILL BAXTER. He is another who will relish the very soft ground and he is down to an official mark of 135, just 2 lbs higher than when lifting the Randox-sponsored Topham Chase at Aintree 11 months ago.
Bill Baxter is definitely not one for the mortgage as he may have fallen out of love with the sport but I am willing to have 1 point each way on him at 17/2 with SkyBet, paying a generous four places in a nine-runner race. There are odds of 10-1 out there for the horse but with one place less.
Roll on the Cheltenham Festival, just 11 days away and counting. In fact, I can’t resist adding one horse to my ante-post portfolio. If BOWTOGREATNESS is only half as good as his handler Ben Pauling thinks he is, then he is well treated off his current rating of 133.
He is a bull of a horse and clearly takes a lot of getting fit and his last run, third at Kempton in the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase just six days ago, will hopefully have put him spot on for the Festival.
We now know that the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on the Thursday (14 March) is almost certainly his aim so back him 1 point each way at 20-1 NRNB, five places, with bet365 for that contest. Then hope that Pauling books a decent amateur jockey for the ride if his charge makes the cut for the race.
Pending:
1 point each way Benson at 12-1 in the Morebattle Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Cracking Rhapsody at 16-1 in the Morebattle Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Fortescue at 6-1 in the BetVictor Veterans’ Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Bill Baxter at 17-2 in the Greatwood Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Stumptown at 12-1 NRNB for the Ultima Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Giovinco at 20-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Libberty Hunter at 12-1 NRNB for the Grand Annual Chase, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way Doddiethegreat at 12-1 NRNB for the Coral Cup, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way Djelo at 20-1 NRNB for the Turners Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Home By The Lee at 28-1 for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Bowtogreatness at 20-1 NRNB for the Kim Muir, 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Bravemansgame at 20-1 NRNB for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Mahler Mission at 20-1 for the Randox Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Vanillier at 16-1 for the Randox Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Panda Boy at 40-1 for the Randox Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
There were no settled bets from last weekend.
2023-4 jump seasons to date: + 1.81 points.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
My gambling record for the past eight years: I have made a profit in 14 of the past 16 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the overall profit of has been 475 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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