If it feels like this column is appearing far more regularly than usual, that’s because it is. Normally a Friday-only offering, there have been four daily previews for the Cheltenham Festival and now this one to make it five columns in as many days.
It’s been tough going finding winners this week but we got there in the end (Iroko tipped at 9-1 in the 5.30pm today). Today we return to a more standard weekend fare, and I have a strong fancy for the big race of the weekend.
I put up two horses last week for the Boulton Group Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (3pm) last weekend and they have both been declared and are now trading much shorter than seven days ago.
I am very happy with both bets but there is a horse in the race now that I have been waiting to back next time out for a couple of months. Initially, it looked as though SECRET REPRIEVE would run in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Festival on Thursday but in the end he bypassed that race to run at Uttoxeter tomorrow instead.
Secret Reprieve won me a lot of money when he landed the Welsh Grand National in January 2021 after it had been postponed due to the weather.
Since that race, which clearly took its toll on the horse, he has taken some time to return to form but Evan Williams is a master at being patient and getting his horses back to their best for a big pot.
Secret Reprieve’s last run on New Year’s Day, when he was third at Cheltenham, was very encouraging and he can make his presence felt tomorrow off a rating of just 132, that’s 2 lbs less than he ran off when successful at Chepstow 26 months ago. Take the 10-1 each way with one of the several bookies offering these odds and five places, including bet365, Paddy Power and Betfair fixed odds.
Iron Bridge and Gustavian are horses that could go on to make their mark in future but I am going to take a chance on a horse at a much bigger price in the Extra Furlong With Trinity Create Novices’ Handicap Chase (3.35pm).
Once again the horse, DANS LE VENT, is trained by Evan Williams and it is the step up in trip from two miles last time out to three miles tomorrow that he is key. He was a decent handicap hurdler last season and his rating of just 128 is very fair over the bigger obstacles.
It may well be that, at the age of ten, Dans le Vent is past his best but at the price I am happy to take that risk. Bet on him each way at 33-1 with Paddy Power or Betfair, paying three places not four unlike other bookies offering shorter prices.
In the end, we had a modest profit for three of the four days this week. That’s it for now, and for a whole week. I will back next Friday as per normal.
2022-3 jumps season, running total + 44.9 points.
Pending bets:
1 point each way The Galloping Bear at 14-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Notachance at 33-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way Secret Reprieve at 10-1 for the Midlands Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, five places.
1 point each way Dans Le Vent at 33-1 for the Uttoxeter 3.35pm, 1/5th odds, three places.
1 point each way Corach Rambler at 20-1 in the Aintree Grand National, paying ¼ odds, four places.
1 point each way Lifetime Ambition at 33-1in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 20-1in the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5 odds, five places.
Settled:
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 ¼ 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
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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